A 64-year-old Helena man was arrested on Aug. 17 after nearly striking several people with his truck, including a man on a horse trying to stop him, authorities said.
Jack Truman Parrish was charged Monday with driving under the influence, a misdemeanor, and two counts of criminal endangerment, a felony.
Jack Truman Parrish
Deputies responded to a report of an accident-turned-assault around the 100 block of Lincoln Road West.
A white Ford truck had struck another vehicle after it sped onto the property, running over a gate and nearly hitting multiple people during a private rodeo, court documents state.
The driver, Parrish, was chased by pedestrians and briefly surrounded on the northwest corner of the property, according to court documents.
When people told him to stop, he reportedly said he didn’t care and tried to run over a witness on a horse. The horse and rider dodged the truck, and a pedestrian dove into the bed of the truck.
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While driving away, the person broke the back window of Parrish’s truck and struck Parrish in the head with a shovel, documents state. Parrish kept driving and sped through the property, hitting high speeds while driving near playing children.
Parrish left the property but returned minutes later, a middle finger raised to the people at the scene, documents state. “Enraged” witnesses found him parked at his home nearby and pulled him out of his truck, assaulting him.
Deputies arrived shortly after and noticed Parrish had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol, documents state. Due to his injuries, deputies chose not to hold field sobriety tests.
Four people told deputies they were close to where Parrish sped onto the property and drove through the fence.
Parrish was taken to St. Peter’s hospital, where he was treated for possible fractured ribs, a dislocated shoulder, various bruising and scratches, and injuries from being punched and struck in the head with a shovel.
He was listed Monday on the inmate roster of Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.
Christine Compton is a reporter for the Helena Independent Record.
