Branton Tyler Jones, 34, Crosby, is charged in district court in Minot with Class C felony possession of drug paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanor fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, Class A misdemeanor driving with a suspended driver’s license, his fourth or subsequent offense within five years, and Class B misdemeanor reckless driving early Thursday morning. His passenger, Kalah Mello, 30, Minot, is charged with Class C felony possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Ward County Deputy Joseph Jackson spotted Jones, who was driving a turquoise 1994 Izuro Rodeo, stopped at a train crossing at 27th Street NE near 4th Street NE. Jackson wrote that Jones was looking multiple times in his driver’s side mirror and rear view mirror, which Jackson found suspicious. Jackson checked the vehicle’s registered owner, determined it was Jones and his license was suspended. Jackson verified the driver was Jones after he looked at Jones’ driver’s license photo. Jackson activated his lights and tried to stop Jones, but Jones sped away and at times drove 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. Jones led multiple law enforcement officers on a chase and ran multiple red lights while fleeing west on Burdick Expressway. The chase led onto U.S. Highways 2 and 52 and Jones lost pieces of the vehicle’s tires during the chase. Eventually Jones pulled into an apartment complex lot in southeast Minot, where he was placed under arrest.

A search of the vehicle turned up a methamphetamine pipe in the possession of passenger Mello. Also found in the vehicle was a baggie containing suspected crystal meth on the driver’s seat. Jones admitted to shooting up meth that morning, according to the affidavit. Jones said he had fled law enforcement because he did not want to go to jail.