Fugitive arrested following crash

SANDPOINT — A fugitive wanted on multiple warrants was arrested after leading law enforcement on high-speed chase and crashing off the Sand Creek Byway on Thursday night.

Jesse James Judge is charged with felony eluding and driving without privileges. Judge was already on multiple warrants for failing to appear in court and violating probation, court records indicate.

Judge, an 18-year-old Sandpoint resident, made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Friday via video feed from the county jail. Judge Lori Meulenberg set Judge’s bail at $77,226 and a public defender was appointed to represent him, court documents said.

An off-duty law officer spotted Judge at a Sandpoint grocery store and the vehicle he was driving was tracked to the Ponderay Walmart parking lot, a probable cause affidavit said. Judge was identified through distinctive facial tattoo that said “509,” the affidavit said.

A deputy drew his weapon and ordered Judge to keep his hands on wheel when he reached for the ignition switch of the Hyundai Tiberon he was driving. Judge, the affidavit said, “briefly” complied with the deputy’s commands, but ultimately peeled out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed.

Judge drove south on U.S. Highway 95, turning against the traffic light and cross traffic, according to court documents. Speeds reached 100 mph as the chase passed Bonner Mall Way and escalated to more than 120 mph on the bypass, with Judge allegedly overtaking a tractor-trailer in a no-passing zone.

Judge crashed off the southbound off-ramp leading to Sandpoint. The compact sports coupe Judge was driving careened through the Superior Street intersection, over a median, through a traffic sign and ended up in a woody bog, the affidavit said. Judge fled the vehicle, but was found near a culvert and surrendered without further incident.

Judge allegedly boasted of his gang affiliation and exploits in Spokane, and said he crashed through the highway sign at 100 mph, according to court documents.

James was wanted on a warrant for failing to appear in 1st District Court on a felony drug possession charge. He was also wanted on probation violation in a felony Kootenai County drug possession case.

A preliminary hearing in the eluding case is scheduled for Dec. 14.