James Patrick Adam Dennis, 36 years old, has been identified as the suspect in a high-speed chase in Great Falls on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
ANEESA COOMER REPORTS - WATCH:
Court documents state that a man reported that his Jeep Wrangler had been stolen from a worksite several miles north of Monarch, about 50 miles southeast of Great Falls.
Several of the man's co-workers were able to stop the Jeep and"made contact" with the suspect - later identified as Dennis - near the Belt turn-off along US Highway 89.
Dennis reportedly pulled out a handgun and fired one round at one of the employees and then sped away toward Great Falls.
As Dennis approached Great Falls, a Cascade County Sheriff's deputy began chasing after him, and officers with the Great Falls Police Department joined in the chase at 57th Street South.
Dennis drove north on 57th Street and turned on to Second Avenue North; according to court documents, Dennis fired shots at the police vehicles; one vehicle received a flat tire as a result.
At the 38th Street intersection, Dennis crashed into a Toyota RAV4, causing significant damage to both vehicles.
The two occupants of the Toyota sustained what the GFPD said were relatively minor injuries.
Dennis was apprehended at the scene, taken to Benefis Health System for treatment of his crash-induced injuries, and later booked into the Cascade County Detention Center.
Lauren Wells was in her car with her daughter at the intersection when Dennis came zooming through.
She recalled, “You could see him kind of hanging out the window like he had something, and so we heard the gunshot. I felt kind of like a ricochet come up under the car, because I could feel it, like, under my foot. And within 15 seconds he crashed. You know, I'm in there with my daughter, so it was intense, definitely scary.”
Dennis is facing felony charges of theft, assault with a weapon, criminal endangerment, and assault on a peace officer.
According to the Cascade County Detention Center inmate roster, initial bail for Dennis has been set at $500,000.
Dennis is a bare-knuckle fighter (BKFC) who was scheduled to compete in a bout in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday.
We will update you as we get more information.
(JUNE 4, 2025) New information has been released after a high-speed chase in Great Falls resulted in a collision at the intersection of 38th Street and Second Avenue North.
TOM WYLIE REPORTS FROM THE SCENE:
The GFPD says that after entering city limits, the suspect began firing a weapon at GFPD officers and CCSO deputies at several locations. Investigators also believe the suspect may have also fired a weapon at residents in the area.
If you were affected by any of this, you're asked to leave a voicemail for GFPD Detective Fleming at 406-455-8519, or send a private message to the GFPD Facebook page.
Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said it began just outside of city limits when deputies identified a vehicle that had been reported stolen.
He explained, "They came in contact with that vehicle (near) Highway 89 and 57th Street. They obviously made an attempt to stop that vehicle. That vehicle ran from them in a pursuit.”
Officers from the Great Falls Police Department then joined the chase, which ended when the suspect vehicle collided with another vehicle at 38th Street and Second Avenue North.
Captain Doug Otto of the Great Falls Police Department said, "The vehicle had two occupants that it was hit. Both were minor injuries, nothing major that we're aware of at this point. The suspect we believe was partially ejected from the vehicle and was taken to Benefis Hospital. He is in custody right now, being monitored by deputies."
The nature and extent of the man's injuries has not been disclosed, but he was seen sitting up at the scene.
No officers were injured.
We have received unconfirmed reports that the suspect may have fired a gun at some point during the chase; authorities have not confirmed yet whether that is true or not.
No other details have been released at this point, including the name of the suspect.
The Division of Criminal Investigation — part of the Montana Department of Justice — is assisting with the investigation.
We will update you when we get more information.
(1st REPORT, 5:14 pm) Officers with the Great Falls Police Department and the Cascade County Sheriff's Office are responding to a "serious incident" in Great Falls.
The activity is at the intersection of Second Avenue North and 38th Street, near a Loaf 'N Jug convenience store.
We do not yet know if anyone has been seriously injured, but a person at the scene told KRTV an ambulance is leaving the area escorted by a law enforcement vehicle.
Neither agency has released details of the incident at this point.
People are advised to avoid the area if possible until further notice.
We have a reporter heading to the scene and will update you as we get more information.
