Helena man arrested after high-speed chase ends on Cedar Street overpass

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper used a PIT maneuver on the Cedar Street interstate overpass to stop a stolen vehicle after a high-speed chase through Helena and East Helena, leading to the arrest of 43-year-old Joseph Wayne Seymour of Helena.

Helena Police were first dispatched at about 2:15 p.m. to the 1600 block of 11th Avenue, near Dive Bakery and MT Glass Liquor, on a report of a stolen vehicle. Officers located the vehicle near the 3600 block of U.S. Highway 12, by Broadwater Hotsprings, at about 3:50 p.m. The driver allegedly fled and led officers on a pursuit that reached speeds above 100 miles per hour before ending on the Cedar Street overpass.

Helena Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol personnel led the response, with additional interagency support assisting as the chase moved through town. The vehicle was reported stolen and had a dog inside; officers found the dog safe after the stop and returned it to the owner.

Prosecutors have charged Joseph Wayne Seymour with multiple felonies, including theft of a light vehicle, attempted burglary, kidnapping, criminal endangerment, and aggravated fleeing or eluding a peace officer. Prosecutors also listed misdemeanor counts that include obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving under the influence - second offense. A judge set bond at $75,000 on the charges presented. Seymour also faces an outstanding $200,000 bond related to an alleged probation violation. Seymour made an initial appearance in Lewis & Clark County Justice Court and is scheduled for arraignment in State District Court on February 24.

Helena Police Department Lieutenant Adam Shanks said, "He had to be stopped, and ultimately, with those many crimes happening in a short time, we knew that this was paramount that we had to get him taken into custody, for the safety of the community." The statement underscores why officers pursued and why multiple agencies coordinated to end the incident on a major commuter route.

No injuries to officers, bystanders, or the suspect were reported in published accounts, and there were no immediate reports of property damage beyond the disabled vehicle. The use of a PIT maneuver on an interstate overpass and a chase clocked at more than 100 miles per hour will likely prompt continued scrutiny of pursuit safety and interagency coordination in dense parts of town.

For local residents, the arrest resolves an immediate threat and returns a pet to its owner, but it also raises questions about vehicle security and downtown safety. The case will proceed through Lewis & Clark County courts with the February 24 arraignment, where prosecutors are expected to file formal charging documents and the community will learn more about next legal steps.