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Chase ends in felony charges

by KEITH KINNAIRD
News editor | October 28, 2020 1:00 AM

PRIEST RIVER — A preliminary hearing is pending for a Bonner County man who allegedly led law enforcement on a 19-mile chase last week.

Joshua Ryan Ordaz is charged with felony eluding and possession of methamphetamine, in addition to misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and driving without privileges. He was being held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

A North Dakota bail bond agent advised deputies that he was following Ordaz's Toyota minivan as it drove eastbound on U.S. Highway 2 in Oldtown on Oct. 20. A deputy attempted to stop Ordaz for exceeding the speed limit at Anselmo Lane on the east side of Priest River.

Ordaz, 28, fled eastbound on the highway and speeds reached 95 mph during the pursuit, a probable cause affidavit alleges. Deputies, in addition to officers from the Sandpoint Police Department and Idaho State Police to deploy several sets of spike strips to puncture the tires of the Toyota Sienna, the affidavit said.

Court documents do not say if the spike strips were effective in slowing the fleeing vehicle, although Ordaz swerved into the westbound lane of traffic during the pursuit, which placed oncoming motorists in danger.

Ordaz ended up crashing at Ontario Street in Sandpoint and was apprehended after he tried to continue his flight on foot, the affidavit said.

The state filed a persistent violator sentencing enhancement against Ordaz because he has three prior felony convictions for burglary, criminal mischief and theft in Richland County, Mont., according to court documents. The enhancement would add five years to life if he's convicted of the underlying charges.

North Dakota's sex offender registry states that Ordaz was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in a juvenile court in Morris County, New Jersey.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Nov. 4 in Bonner County Magistrate Court.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com or followed on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.