Suspect in carjackings detained after foot chase

SANDPOINT — A Bonners Ferry man is in custody on $10,000 bail after allegations that he stole firearms and other items out of vehicles before leading law enforcement on a brief foot chase.

Matthew Colin Henslee appeared in court Wednesday where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing, agreeing to be bound over into First District Court. Henslee is facing charges of grand theft of a firearm, two counts of burglary, resisting arrest and petit theft.

Henslee is suspected of stealing items from vehicles near Schweitzer Plaza in the beginning of October. On the evening of Oct. 5, Ponderay Police Officer Cameron Simeral said he saw Henslee pushing a shopping cart in front of Northwest Autobody while wearing a jacket that fit the description of one that had been stolen from a vehicle the day before.

Simeral pulled over 20 feet behind Henslee, got out of his vehicle, and tried to catch up to Henslee. Henslee kept walking away from Simeral despite repeated commands to wait. Henslee walked away from his shopping cart, and then began sprinting away from Simeral, prompting the foot chase.

Henslee jumped over a retaining wall into the employee parking lot of Taylor and Sons Chevrolet, according to Simeral, who said he warned Henslee he was going to use his stun gun on him if he didn’t stop. However, Simeral decided not to use the device because of how fast the two were running over hard pavement. Eventually, Simeral caught up to Henslee and made him lose his balance, causing the two to fall to the ground. According to court records, Henslee kept resisting Simeral while hiding his arms from the officer during the struggle.

Simeral was able to secure Henslee in handcuffs after a few minutes. The officer said Henslee admitted there was a semi-automatic .380 handgun in one of his pants pockets. Later discovered in Henslee’s shopping cart was an AR 5.56 caliber pistol with a 7.5-inch barrel, which was reported stolen that same day after Henslee was taken into custody.

Henslee waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. In exchange, the defense asked the court to lower Henslee’s bail.

The prosecution argued that Henslee’s bail should remain at $10,000, something which caught Judge Justin Julian’s notice.

“Bond is only $10,000. I actually expected to see another zero behind that number. So I’m somewhat shocked that the bond is already this low,” he said. “If Mr. Henslee truly has so many friends and such a supportive family group, why haven’t they bailed him out for $10,000? That’s another big question.”

Henslee’s bond remains at $10,000. He will be arraigned in First District Court on Nov. 1.