Charges filed in high-speed chase

BONNERS FERRY — Anne Solt, 47, is facing multiple charges after she led law enforcement on a car chase that began in Bonners Ferry and ended in Moyie Springs on Friday night, Oct. 19.

Shortly before 9 p.m., Boundary County Sheriff’s Dispatch advised Boundary County Deputy Brandon Cobler and Boundary County Sheriff’s Corporal Clint Randall that M. Solt was in the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office lobby, yelling incoherently and causing a scene, according to the police report.

Deputy Cobler advised Sheriff’s Dispatch he was in the area and Corporal Randall stated he was several minutes away. Bonners Ferry Sergeant Willie Cowell responded from the Police Department to assist Cobler.

According to the police report, Cowell saw a silver 2010 Dodge Caravan pull away from the front of the Sheriff’s Office, accelerate northbound on First Street, not stopping at the stop sign, and traveling at approximately 40-45 mph.

“The Dodge was still accelerating as it entered and passed through the First Street and Bonner Street intersection, which has four way stop signs for traffic control,” wrote Cowell in the police report. “Traffic was light on the surface streets in town.”

Solt then turned eastbound onto Riverside Road, ran the stop sign on Riverside at Main Street, then ran the stop sign on Main, entering northbound Highway 95 at a high rate of speed.

According to the police report, traffic on Highway 95 had to stop in both the north and southbound directions to avoid colliding with the Dodge. Cowell entered northbound Highway 95 behind Solt and advised Sheriff’s Dispatch he was in pursuit of the van.

As the pursuit left the Bonners Ferry city limits, speeds surpassed 65 mph in the posted 45 mph zone. Solt allegedly passed vehicles by crossing into the southbound lanes while traveling up the North Hill.

“It was at this point, numerous objects began hitting the front of the patrol vehicle, at which point I could see the driver (later confirmed as Solt), was throwing handfuls of unidentified items out the driver’s side window of the Dodge,” wrote Cowell. “Damaged sustained to the patrol vehicle by the unidentified items being thrown from the Dodge, is in the form of a chipped windshield.”

Cobler joined the pursuit around mile marker 509 and speeds were approximately 70 mph and still accelerating. Solt turned eastbound on HWY 2 and allegedly accelerated to around 100 mph, passing vehicles. Bonners Ferry Lieutenant Christian Frye joined the pursuit and Randall advised he was in position to deploy spike strips if the vehicle continued eastbound on HWY 2 past the Moyie River Bridge.

Solt then turned on North Division Road where the vehicle pursuit continued onto eastbound Roosevelt Road, maintaining an approximate speed of 45 mph in the 15 mph zone until nearing the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Brink Street.

“The Dodge appeared as though it was yielding on Roosevelt Road near Brink Street, almost coming to a stop on the east shoulder of Roosevelt Road,” wrote Cowell in the police report. “I brought the patrol vehicle to a near stop approximately 15 feet from the rear driver’s side of the Dodge.”

Solt then allegedly accelerated once again, continuing eastbound on Roosevelt Road.

“I too began accelerating slightly behind and approximately 15 feet off the driver’s side of the Dodge, when the van erratically veered towards the patrol vehicle as both vehicles were in motion on eastbound Roosevelt Road,” wrote Cowell. “It appeared to me as though Solt was intentionally attempting to sideswipe the patrol vehicle with the Dodge she was diving.”

Cowell applied the brakes on the patrol vehicle which he reported felt soft, possibly due to the heat from the high speeds. According to the police report, the patrol vehicle slowed enough to avoid a sideswipe collision.

“However, the Dodge did not correct in the eastbound direction on Roosevelt Road, but instead turned crossways in the road directly in front of my assigned patrol vehicle,” wrote Cowell. “The patrol vehicle was still in motion and not responding quickly to fully applied break pressure, at which point the Dodge and the patrol vehicle collided. “

According to the police report, the Dodge sustained damage to the driver side rear passenger door and the van momentarily came to a stop.

“I could see Deputy Cobler position his assigned patrol vehicle, which also had its emergency lights and siren activated, off the left rear flank of my assigned patrol vehicle,” wrote Cowell. “It appeared to me, Deputy Cobler positioned his assigned patrol vehicle in such a way as to block the Dodge if the pursuit happened to change direction on Roosevelt Road.”

According to the police report, Solt then accelerated once more, turning westbound on Roosevelt Road past my assigned patrol vehicle and rammed Cobler’s patrol vehicle head-on, terminating the pursuit.

Cowell stepped from the patrol vehicle where he was able to identify Solt as she exited the Dodge.

“Solt was wild-eyed and incoherently screaming when Deputy Cobler and I ordered her at gunpoint to stop and keep her hands visible,” wrote Cowell in the report. “Solt ignored our commands and instead aggressively approached me while continuing to yell incoherently with her arms flailing about.”

Solt was allegedly combative and not compliant while she was placed under arrested.

Idaho State Police was requested and responded to the scene to conduct an outside agency investigation regarding the incident.

According to the police report, Cobler interviewed Solt after she was secured in the rear seat of his assigned patrol vehicle, and Cowell reported hearing her give two separate reasons as to why she was attempting to elude law enforcement. Solt allegedly claimed that her daughter had been brutally raped and the other reason was because her granddaughter had been murdered, both of which were proven to be false as they talked directly to the daughter.

According to the police report, Sheriff’s Dispatch advised Solt was placed in a restraint chair due to her continued non-compliance once reaching the jail.

Upon completion of the ISP crash investigation, Dyck’s Oil and Auto arrived on-scene to impound the Dodge. Both patrol vehicle involved in the crash was deemed safe to drive.

After clearing the scene of the crash, Cowell responded to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Jail to complete booking paperwork on Solt.

“Upon entering the Jail, I saw Detention Deputies Brown and Cowell attempting to calm Solt whom was still screaming incoherently while secured in the jail’s restraint chair,” wrote Cowell in the report.

Solt was charged with felony flee and eluding law enforcement and malicious injury to property.

According to the police report, Cowell will be forwarding a charge against Solt to the County Prosecutor’s Office for resisting and obstructing law enforcement.

“This charge stems from Solt’s non-compliance after she exited the Dodge, compelling law enforcement to use force in order to affect her arrest,” wrote Cowell.

Solt’s bond is set at $100,000.