MINOT – It began with a gas drive off in Wilton and ended in downtown Minot. In between was a wild car chase that included gunshots, a McLean County sheriff’s deputy being struck by a stolen car, driving at high speed the wrong way on U.S. Highway 83 south of the city and, finally, a foot chase.
Charged with 13 felonies as a result of the morning episode on February 25 of this year was Joshua Chambers, 19, Minot. Chambers had a preliminary hearing in North-Central District Court late Wednesday in front Judge Richard Hagar. It didn’t last long.
Hagar explained to Chambers that the Wednesday hearing was “not a trial” and asked the defendant if he had any questions. Chambers replied, “No sir.”
Moments later John Thomas, the court-appointed attorney assigned to Chambers, sought to be removed from the case. Hagar brought the matter to a conclusion, telling Chambers and State’s Attorney Rozanna Larson that the matter of a preliminary hearing for Chambers would be postponed until another defense counsel could be appointed,
According to an affidavit filed with the court, Chambers was driving a stolen vehicle at the time of the February incident. A female passenger was in the front seat. Both of them, along with two rear passengers who fled the scene, were quickly apprehended.
The car chase ended near 3rd Street SE and 1st Ave. SE. It involved multiple law enforcement officers and vehicles from the Minot PD and both the McLean County and Ward County Sheriff’s Offices.
A pretrial conference for Chambers is set for June 14 at 8:30 a.m.
