Latest news with #ColumbiaFallsPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Law roundup: Noisy bear gives Lakeside resident pause
Jun. 11—A bear allegedly got stuck outside a Lakeside residence and was heard struggling by someone who reported to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office that it might be caught on a fence. A "free roaming" German shepherd allegedly cooled off at the lake, swimming and barking at people on a beach while nine puppies hung out in a tent with two women despite signs stating dogs were prohibited. A neighbor's two loose huskies reportedly dined out at a Columbia Falls resident's yard and killed 10 chickens. Someone reportedly chased a black cow out of the roadway in Whitefish. The caller told deputies other cows were roaming around and noticed a fenced area but heeded the "No trespassing" signs. The area turned out to be an open herd district. Not long after, deputies received another call about the loose cows. A man told deputies his wife called him concerned that a loose cow in a ditch in Whitefish would get on the road. A driver called deputies, alleging someone in a vehicle that was tailgating them had thrown stuff at their car. The caller said they saw someone sitting in the passenger seat with the door partly open. The vehicle eventually turned into Martin City. Four to five gallons of fuel, possibly from a gas can, leaked into a Kalispell parking lot about 15 spots from a building. A woman called the Columbia Falls Police Department, complaining neighbors were intentionally disturbing her by riding four-wheelers around the block and through the alleys because she had asked them to stop. The owner of the four-wheelers then called the police, wanting clarification on applicable city ordinances. A man alleged that his girlfriend, who may not be anymore, texted him, stating she was going to throw all his belongings out of their apartment and had changed the door code and wouldn't allow him back into the apartment. He also said she had been drinking heavily recently.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Law roundup: Man's screaming leaves passerby concerned
May 23—Hearing what sounded like a man's screams emanating from a white minivan on Nucleus Avenue, a concerned passerby asked the Columbia Falls Police Department to check it out. They said it sounded like the man was screaming for help. They were unsure whether the man needed medical help or was distressed in some other way. Finding a female large breed dog sporting a purple collar wandering around Darlene Road, a passerby asked that officers take ownership of the animal. They described the animal as "in rough shape" and said that they couldn't take the canine because they already had a dog. Authorities fetched the tan and white pooch and took it to the county animal shelter. A woman arrived at the Police Department and said she had a meeting with someone about a fight involving her daughter. Spotting a group of preteen and teen girls drinking suspiciously from a sports drink bottle at the skate park, a passerby told officers she believed they were boozing. The girls looked drunk, she said, and were taking what appeared to be shots from the bottle and chasing it with soda. The woman later amended the story, telling officers that, on second thought, they didn't look drunk and acknowledging that she never smelled alcohol on them. She did add that she confronted them about drinking in the park and they all gave her a "deer-in-the-headlights" look. She also reported contacting at least one of their parents through Facebook. She hoped officers would ramp up patrols around the park. Authorities checked in on the owner of a vehicle sitting stationary at Depot Park for some length of time. After the man behind the wheel confirmed he would not be staying there overnight, officers reminded him of the park's hours of operation. Officers tried to smooth things over between a motorist and a pedestrian after the latter reported the former for speeding in the area and took video of their driving. Based on the footage, investigators agreed that the vehicle was likely going over the posted speed limit and tracked down the person behind the wheel. After getting counseled on sticking to the speed limit, the motorist accused the pedestrian of jumping out in front of her. A woman was detained for shoplifting.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Law roundup: Teens back in the high life again
May 16—A group of teenagers looking to enjoy the high life jumped from the balcony of their apartment to the roof of an adjacent business in Columbia Falls. The brother of the owner of the business happened to spot the parkour enthusiasts and phoned the Columbia Falls Police Department. An officer sent over to deal with the gaggle told them to get back on the level and stay off of the roof going forward. The teens duly retreated from their perch. Officers stickered a camper they found parked under the viaduct and made plans to circle back later in the evening to see if they could find an owner. The owner of a salon phoned from out-of-state after the cameras at the business picked up audio of what sounded like an intruder trying to get through the door. Authorities scoped it out, but found nothing amiss. Officers reminded a man of his outstanding warrant during a traffic stop on Third Avenue. A woman was found squatting in a ditch. Officers reported back that she wanted nothing to do with law enforcement. Bullies cornered a girl at school, telling her that they were going to kill her family. Officers collected a 10-speed Schwinn left in an alley for several days. A motorist was cited for driving without insurance during a traffic stop on Ninth Street. Authorities attempted to track down a red Chevrolet pickup truck that sideswiped a silver Hyundai Santa Fe on U.S. 2. After the collision, the pickup truck roared off, hitting speeds of 90 mph to escape culpability. The driver of the Hyundai was unable to get down the offender's license plate number, but told investigators the extended cab pickup, which was carrying a load of lumber, was smeared in dust and mud. Its mustachioed driver was in his 30s or 40s and was wearing a hat.
