The Cascade County Attorney’s Office filed additional charges against James Dennis, 36, last week in connection with a June 4 car theft, police pursuit and crash.

In June, Dennis was charged with four felony counts: theft, assault with a weapon, criminal endangerment and assault on a peace officer.

On Sept. 16, the prosecution filed amended charges with a total of 30 counts: 

• four counts of felony theft
• one count of misdemeanor theft, first offense
• two felony counts of assault with a weapon
• nine felony counts of criminal endangerment
• five felony counts of assault on a peace officer
• one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while under the influence of Delta-9 THC
• one misdemeanor count of fleeing from or eluding a peace officer
• one misdemeanor count of driving while suspended or revoked
• one misdemeanor count of failure to obey a red/stop traffic signal, first offense
• one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest
• two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief
• one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass
• one felony count of criminal mischief

According to charging documents, Dennis stole a black Jeep Wrangler from a NorthWestern Energy utility site at 5378 Highway 89 in Monarch. The car’s owner and his friends who work for NorthWestern called 911 to report the theft.

Suspect charged for stolen vehicle, pursuit, crash

The NorthWestern employees had been doing utility work on the highway near Monarch. The car owner’s friends were able to stop the Jeep and make contact with Dennis between mile marker 74 and 75 on Highway 89 when Dennis brandished a handgun, firing a round at one of the employees and drove off.

Reports of shots fired on Highway 89 came into 911 dispatch at 4:53 p.m. on June 4.

Dennis then continued westbound between Belt and Great Falls when a Cascade County sheriff’s deputy made contact, activated his lights and pursued the stolen vehicle, according to court documents.

Dennis continued at a high rate of speed toward Great Falls, brandishing the firearm at the deputy, according to charging documents.

Judge increases Denny’s bond in police chase, crash, burglary

Dennis turned right onto 57th Street South and continued northbound where Great Falls Police officers made contact with the vehicle and Dennis fired multiple shots in the direction of the officer’s vehicles, according to court documents.

Dennis turned left onto 2nd Avenue North and fired more rounds at police vehicles near the 4200 block, causing a flat tire to one police vehicle.

Continuing westbound on 2nd Avenue North, Dennis fired more shots at another responding GFPD officer and struck a blue Toyota RAV4 at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and 38th Street North, causing significant damage to both vehicles.

Dennis was ejected from the vehicle and taken into custody. He was transported to the hospital, according to multiple law enforcement sources. He was later booked into the Cascade County Adult Detention Center.

The two occupants of the RAV4 were okay, according to GFPD.

Dennis has been in the county jail since June 5 on a $500,000 bond.

During his initial court appearance on June 5 before Judge Elizabeth Best, Dennis said he had road rash and was in a lot of pain, but could understand the judge.

Brasda sentenced on 2024 car chase charges

Jayde James, representing Dennis for his initial appearance, said Dennis had lived in Great Falls for a significant period of time, has family in the area, is able to be employed and is willing to complete a chemical dependency evaluation.

She said he had some mental health issues including depression and anxiety.

James said they were asking for any bond reduction the court was willing to grant since he was of limited financial means.

Best said she was maintaining bond at $500,000 due to the flight risk and community safety factors were “about as high as they can go,” since Dennis caused a police chase and fired a weapon during rush hour.

Stephanie Fuller, for the Cascade County Attorney’s Office, objected to a bond reduction, saying Dennis was a danger to the community.

Fuller said he was a suspect in several reports of stolen vehicles in recent days and during the June 4 incident victimized at least eight law enforcement members and multiple members of the community. She said Dennis continued to resist arrest after being ejected from the stolen vehicle after crashing into another vehicle.

Best amended her order to require Level 3 monitoring if Dennis posted bond. That requires weekly check-ins, GPS monitoring, a chemical dependency evaluation, weekly drug testing and a drug patch. She also ordered a mental health evaluation.

The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office said June 5 that it was asking for the public’s help in locating a white 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 with the license plate AYK735, which was related to the June 4 theft and pursuit.

On June 9, CCSO said it had located the truck.

During a June 10 press conference, Slaughter said that Dennis had allegedly stolen a black GMC truck and trailer without a license plate from Simms on June 2 or 3, leaving another vehicle at the scene.

On June 3, he was alleged to have pointed a handgun at a landowner near Ulm, driving off without the trailer, which CCSO later located but it hadn’t yet been reported as stolen.

Later that day, deputies contacted Dennis walking around Old Airport Road with a knife and a black dog but didn’t have complaints on him yet so they didn’t have a reason to detain him, Slaughter said.

Around 6 a.m. June 4, a report came in about a suspicious male in Cascade with a 2001 Chevy Silverado and another vehicle was reported stolen from a ranch in Cascade.

About an hour and a half later, the owner of the black GMC reported it stolen and that’s when law enforcement realized Dennis was likely the suspect in the string of reports.

Slaughter said CCSO contacted GFPD to go to his last known location in the city and deputies searched areas he’s been spotted in the county.

Dennis’ roommate reported that Dennis has likely stolen his vehicle.

One of the stolen vehicles was spotted in White Sulfur Springs, where Dennis allegedly entered a residence and was interrupted by the homeowner, fleeing the scene.

Dennis brandished a weapon at a CCSO deputy who returned fire and fired multiple rounds at GFPD officers.

Capt. Doug Mahlum of GFPD said during the June 10 press conference that it was an “extremely volatile and quickly evolving” situation.

GFPD responded to the edge of the city to assist and a patrol sergeant exchanged fire with Dennis, Mahlum said.

All of the officers involved were on administrative leave as agencies investigated the incident, but all have returned to duty.

Asked about policies and protocols regarding returning fire on and from moving vehicles, Slaughter said, “out job is to stop the threat that’s endangering the public when left with no other alternative.”