On January 12, 2020, at approximately 7:49 pm officers of the Grand Forks Police
Department attempted a traffic stop of a 2003 gold Chevrolet Tahoe in the 500 block of North 5th Street. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop and a short pursuit ensued. The vehicle made a series of turns and started driving the wrong way. The estimated speed of the vehicle was 50 to 55 miles per hour. The vehicle was ultimately stopped in the 900 block of North Washington Street using a pursuit intervention technique.
A tactical vehicle intervention was completed on the vehicle which had become partially stuck in a snowbank after the pursuit intervention technique. Two people exited the vehicle and fled on foot but were stopped by officers on the scene and taken into custody without incident. Two other people were also in the vehicle at the time of the pursuit and taken into custody without incident.
The driver, Christopher McPhail, 38 of Grand Forks, was arrested and charged
with fleeing in a motor vehicle, refusal to halt, reckless endangerment, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana less than 1/2 oz., an active North Dakota parole violation warrant, and several traffic infractions. Also arrested was passenger, Jesse Allard, 44 of Grand Forks, for possession of drug paraphernalia. Another passenger, Karin Alley, 28 of East Grand Forks, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and an active Polk County warrant. The fourth person in the vehicle was released without charges.
