Two jailed following police pursuits

SANDPOINT — Two people were arrested in separate police pursuits over the holiday weekend.

There were no reports of injuries, although two law enforcement vehicles were damaged in one of the incidents, court records show.

Darrel James Matson and Richard Lane Hernvall are each charged with felony eluding and face additional misdemeanor charges as well.

Sandpoint Police attempted to stop Hernvall, a 32-year-old Sandpoint resident, because of the Cadillac Seville he was driving did not have functioning taillights, the arrest report said. Hernvall allegedly failed to yield and speeds reached 70 miles an hour as he drove westbound on Pine Street.

The incident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Hernvall, the report said, drove up a private driveway, but put the sedan in reverse and plowed into a Sandpoint Police patrol vehicle, which was then pushed into a Bonner County Sheriff’s patrol unit.

Hernvall was arrested without further incident and allegedly told police he tried to shake his pursuers because his license was suspended.

He was further charged with driving without privileges and ordered Monday held in lieu of $12,000 bail.

Matson, 42, of Newport, Wash., is accused of trying to outrun a sheriff’s deputy on Highway 41 south of Oldtown on New Year’s Day.

The deputy’s report said Matson had failed to stop at two intersections and drifted onto the shoulder, where he nearly hit two pedestrians.

Matson allegedly drove the Chevrolet pickup truck in the opposing lane of traffic while cresting Idaho Hill and continued to swerve out of his lane as he drove south out of town. The pickup truck apparently faltered and Matson pulled over, but he ignored the deputy’s commands and repeated warnings that a Tazer would be deployed to foster his compliance.

Matson was jolted three times with the Tazer before the deputy and backup assistance could subdue him, the report said.

A blood test indicated Matson was nearly three times over the legal limit to drive, court records said.

He was charged with eluding, drunken driving, possession of an open container of alcohol and resisting arrest. His bail was set at $15,000 on Monday.

Matson was also wanted on a no-bond Bannock County warrant for failing to appear at a 2003 sentencing hearing on charges of domestic violence, violating a no-contact order, battery on a law officer and resisting arrest.