A police chase through Missoula this morning ended with one man in custody and a search for a second suspect that managed to run away on foot. According to Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh, the chase started after an officer tried to pull over a vehicle for a busted tail light.

"The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated," Welsh said. "The vehicle eventually pulled into a parking lot in the 300 block of North Reserve Street where it struck a railing and a bush. At that point three people got out of the vehicle and a pistol fell out onto the ground."

Two of the people that got out stayed and spoke with police but one suspect ran away and had still not been located. The driver of the vehicle sped away and took police on a chase from Reserve down to the intersection of Harve and Eaton where it crashed into a lumber guardrail after failing to negotiate a turn. Welsh said that stop sticks had been thrown on the road on Eaton, but it is unclear if they popped the suspects tires.

"At that point the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot," Welsh said. "He was observed later running down Brooks Street and was taken into custody with the aid of a Highway Patrol officer that was in the area. The driver was identified as 22-year-old Michael  Daum, and he is currently in custody and is set to appear on new charges."

Daum will appear in court tomorrow where he will face charges for leaving the scene of a property damage accident as well as for a municipal court warrant that he had before this morning's incident. Welsh says police are still investigating the pistol and are trying to locate the passenger that got away.

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