A man brought up on felony charges after leading Kalispell Police on a chase through the city in November 2024 later earned multiple sentences with the state Department of Corrections.  

Prosecutors charged Eric Christopher Appl, 40, in Flathead County District Court with criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute in the wake of his Nov. 5 arrest. Though Appl maintained his innocence at his arraignment, he reached a deal with the Flathead County Attorney's Office in early 2025. 

In exchange for guilty pleas, prosecutors amended the drug dealing charge to a felony possession charge on Jan. 24 of that year. He entered his new pleas before Judge Amy Eddy that same day.  

At Appl's March 18 sentencing, Eddy handed down an eight-year sentence with four years suspended for the count of criminal endangerment and a four-year sentence for the drug possession charge. She ordered the two sentences to run concurrently.  

Eddy also gave Appl credit for 134 days of time served.  

Appl, wanted on an arrest warrant in November 2024, allegedly fled after Kalispell Police officers recognized him at a gas station about 11:34 a.m., court documents said. He allegedly hit speeds of 50 mph in school zones and 60 mph in residential neighbors during the chase and ran 29 stop signs and three red lights. 

Officers ended the pursuit with what is known as a precision immobilization technique or PIT maneuver. In a PIT maneuver, an officer bumps a fleeing vehicle in an attempt to force it to turn sideways and come to a stop.  

Appl attempted to continue to flee on foot, but was unsuccessful, according to court documents.  

During a subsequent search of his vehicle, officers found and opened a backpack. Inside, they recovered what they suspected of being methamphetamine in baggies decorated with dollar signs, court documents said. They also found unused baggies and an electronic scale.  

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].