Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
UNIONTOWN — Deputies were advised of a suspected vehicle traveling westbound at 6:25 a.m. on Schlee Road, south Uniontown, on Saturday, July 15.
Brian Lee Tidwell, 55, of Clarkston, was arrested in Lewiston, Idaho, after his capture by the Lewiston Police Department. His arrest followed a chase through several counties after he was suspected of poaching in Whitman County.
Tidwell is currently held at Nez Perce County Jail in Lewiston, and the case is still active. He was arrested and booked on the charge of obstructing an officer. He is held on a $500 bond through Nez Perce court and a warrant from Asotin County on misdemeanor charges of battery and malicious mischief. If bonded out from Nez Perce, Tidwell will be transferred to the Asotin County Jail, where he cannot bail or bond out on his misdemeanor charges.
The vehicle Tidwell drove, a 2018 black Dodge Ram 2500 pickup, had been reported to Washington State Fish & Game earlier in the day as possibly poaching in the area. At that time, the vehicle was not located.
Deputies were on Wawawai Road near Steptoe Canyon at the time of the call and located the vehicle southbound on Steptoe Canyon Road, approximately four miles north of Wawawai Road, reports say.
The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies attempted to stop the vehicle using emergency lights on Steptoe Canyon Road. Still, the driver did not pull over and drove around the patrol car northbound on Steptoe Canyon Road.
While following the vehicle, an elk head with antlers was observed in the pickup bed.
It was later determined that the elk head with antlers in the pickup bed was an elk head mount, not recent kill.
The suspect vehicle continued south on Steptoe Canyon Road and then drove eastbound on Wawawai Road towards Clarkston at a high rate of speed and failed to yield to the marked patrol car with emergency lights and a siren behind it, reports say.
The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies contacted the Clarkston Police Department and the Asotin County Sheriff’s Office, informed them of the suspect vehicle and discontinued the pursuit of the vehicle.
The Asotin County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop the suspect vehicle in their jurisdiction. However, the vehicle failed to yield and went into Lewiston, Idaho.
Charges were expected to be forwarded to the Whitman County Prosecutor’s Office after the arrest. There are no updates to the case at the time of publication.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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