Wanted fugitive arrested in Mineral County

A fugitive wanted after a series of burglaries and vehicle thefts in Washington and Idaho was arrested while hiding in a camper in Mineral County on Friday morning, according to Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth.

Jesse Robert Spitzer, 30, allegedly shot at police officers in Washington and Idaho several times last week, but managed to escape in multiple stolen cars, authorities said. At one point he jumped into the Columbia River and swam downstream in the ice-cold water, climbed out and allegedly stole another vehicle.

He first came over to Montana Wednesday night and allegedly took another vehicle in Saltese, where he then drove back into Idaho before he could be apprehended.

Thursday, he was spotted in Kellogg, Idaho and a pursuit took place where Spitzer allegedly shot at officers again as he drove back into Montana at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Toth said that the Montana Highway Patrol and one of his deputies’ spike-stripped his tires, yet he managed to continue driving to the parking lot of the $50,000 Bar & Casino in Haugan. Another trooper disabled his vehicle by ramming into it with his patrol unit.

A foot pursuit took place with officers from Idaho, Montana and Mineral County in pursuit when Spitzer turned around facing them and put a gun to his head, authorities said. A taser attempt was made but Spitzer escaped and ran into the woods.

Due to the darkness and cold temperature, a perimeter was being established as the Mineral County undersheriff and Sargent arrived. Soon after, Sheriff Toth pulled up along with officers from Washington State coming from the other direction.

The West End Volunteer Fire Department opened their facility which became the Strategic Command Post where Toth was in control and deputized the out of state law enforcement officers. Missoula and Flathead counties were also responding along with the new tactical team the Highway Patrol recently created. Two helicopters from Spokane County arrived and remained at the weigh station with snipers in the event there was a hostage situation.

The Missoula Sheriff and his captains and negotiators soon appeared, along with two U.S. Marshalls. Over 60 law enforcement officers were on site or at the command post for the duration of the situation.

Spitzer was on foot through the night and had lost both of his shoes but managed to allegedly break into a camper trailer behind the Silver Dollar Inn. One of the three tactical teams tracked him to it, and when they were sure he was inside, a K-9 unit entered and Spitzer was apprehended shortly after 9 a.m.

“This was a combined effort of many law enforcement agencies from multiple states to protect the citizens in Mineral County”, said Toth. “Superior EMS stayed with us the entire time not knowing if they were going to be needed or not, which was great”, Toth shared. “Brooke (Lincoln) at the $50,000 Bar was extremely understanding and cooperative as she had a huge snowmobile event about to start and they were all arriving, but the perimeter kept them from parking.”

Something else Toth shared is that every car that Spitzer allegedly stole had the keys in it.

Spitzer was to be held initially the Mineral County jail in Superior, Toth said.

“We’d like to think that Mineral County is a sleepy little area full of good-natured people. And in most parts, that’s true. I get that. Yet we’re on I-90 and with all the criminal activity going on in Washington and Oregon where they face defunding the police departments, or law enforcement is instructed to stand-down in dangerous situations, we’re going to have more and more of this happening. Not every place is a blessed as we are (Mineral County) to have the support of the community,” Toth said.

“We’re seeing a huge uptick in drugs coming over. An uptick in fugitives on the interstate. The lack of not supporting law enforcement in those areas along with their catch-and-release culture that has developed in those courtrooms has only empowered criminals and their activity,” he added.

Spitzer's criminal record includes convictions for attempted murder with a deadly weapon and burglary in Nevada. He and a co-defendant fired shots at a Nevada sheriff's deputy who was pursuing a vehicle matching the description of one involved in a burglary. The officer was not injured. Spitzer was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison in July 2011.

His mother blamed his actions on an addiction to narcotics at his Nevada sentencing hearing. On Thursday, she called KHQ-TV in Spokane, Washington, and said her son has drug and mental health problems that led to his actions.

At the time of Spitzer's arrest in Nevada, he and his co-defendant had fled Washington state in a stolen vehicle with a stolen gun to avoid warrants stemming from burglaries in that state.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.