High-speed pursuit ends in crash, man's arrest

PONDERAY — A Sandpoint man was arrested after allegedly leading a Bonner County sheriff’s deputy on a high-speed chase on a stolen motorcycle that ended in a crash in the foothills of the Cabinet Mountains on Friday.

John William Grimes IV is charged with grand theft, felony eluding, misdemeanor theft and resisting arrest. He made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Monday via videoconferencing with the jail.

Judge Tera Harden set Grimes’ bail at $75,000 and appointed a public defender to represent him, court records show.

Ponderay Police were called to the 800 block of Kootenai Cutoff Road after receiving a report that Grimes showed up at a business where his girlfriend works and was causing a disturbance. A court’s protection order was in place, although it is described as “unserved” in court documents.

Grimes, 36, took off on a motorcycle and Sandpoint Police noted that motorcycle had been reported stolen earlier in the day, a probable cause affidavit said. Shortly after 9:30 a.m., a deputy spotted the suspect driving east on Highway 200 at a high rate of speed.

The deputy gave chase, although the BMW K1300S sport bike Grimes was riding was pulling away and surpassing the 100-mph mark. A 17-mile chase ensued and ended in the 900 block of Trapper Creek Road when Grimes crashed.

Grimes, the affidavit said, attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended after a K-9 officer and handler tracked him into the forest.

Officers found a bag strapped to the BMW which held an iPhone that was reported stolen at a Sandpoint grocery store on Friday.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.