Suspected Drunk Driver Flees From Police With Two Kids in the Car

On Wednesday, a Missoula Police Officer received a report of a possible intoxicated driver. The caller said the driver of the vehicle had come over to his house and started a fight with him and his wife. The caller described the vehicle and said the driver had two children with him.

A short time later, the officer found the vehicle and saw it make a right turn without signaling. The officer initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as 39-year-old Issac Holmes. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“While at the window, the officer made observations that indicated Holmes was impaired,” Arnold said. “The officer also observed an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle and body movements that indicated impairment. Based on the officer’s observations and the original 911 call, the officer asked Holmes to step out of the vehicle. Holmes failed to comply, put the vehicle in drive, and accelerated away at a high rate of speed. The officer could hear one of the children in the back of the car yelling ‘daddy’.”

The officer began to pursue Holmes and found him driving approximately 50 mph as he went through the intersection of Broadway and the ramp of Reserve Street. It was at this point that Holmes had to make an abrupt lane change to keep from crashing into another vehicle. Holmes was traveling at speeds of 80 mph in a 45 mph zone and made several lane changes without signaling.

“Due to the danger of police pursuits and there being two young children in the vehicle, the pursuit was terminated by police supervisors,” Arnold said. “The officer in pursuit immediately deactivated their lights and sirens and slowed to the posted speed limit. The officer watched as the vehicle continued in an unsafe manor. At one point, the vehicle made a U-turn and came back toward the officer at a high rate of speed. Another officer in the area observed the vehicle go into the KOA campground. Thanks to witnesses, officers were able to locate the unoccupied vehicle and they eventually located Holmes and the two children.”

Holmes was taken into custody and transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. Holmes has four prior DUI convictions. In addition, Holmes’ vehicle was searched at the request of probation and parole and several White Claw cans were located, as well as an empty bottle of Hydrocodone.

Holmes is currently being charged with two counts of criminal child endangerment, criminal endangerment, fleeing from a peace officer, failure to carry insurance, and driving with a suspended license.