First flathead county police blotter is a doozy

[Highlander]

https://flatheadbeacon.com/2020/11/13/nude-man-arrested-accused-driving-car-columbia-falls-grocery-store/?fbclid=IwAR1icbH5OMnaL3sgTA_6ERyhW5te7jGov4trqgpeQ5qwmMwrRt4sKbhpyLI
An unidentified man discovered streaking naked through the halls of a retirement home near his abandoned car is suspected of driving that same vehicle through the front doors and down the aisles of Super 1 Foods grocery store in Columbia Falls Thursday night.

No one was injured during the chaotic series of incidents that left massive damage inside the store and the man, who was exhibiting “signs of drug impairment,” is hospitalized with what are described as non-injury medical issues. As of 10 a.m. Friday he had not been charged with a crime.

According to a press release from the Columbia Falls Police Department, the wild night began at around 5:50 p.m. when officers from CFPD and deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office were summoned to the Super 1 just off U.S. Highway 2. There, they discovered massive damage to the exterior and interior of the building where a 1995 Chevrolet Lumina was seen crashing through the doors and driving down aisles before leaving the store. A short time later, the Lumina crashed into a trailer and the driver, described by witnesses as a 40- to 50-year-old man with dark hair and a mustache or beard, fled on foot.

Minutes after the Lumina was found, police received a report of a man who matched the description running naked down the hallway of a retirement home near the abandoned car. Employees of the retirement home recognized the man as someone with a “known relationship” to a resident there. The man was apprehended by law enforcement approximately one block west of the facility.

Police Chief Clint Peters praised the efforts of his officers, other law enforcement agencies and the public in the department’s release.

“We would … like to commend the employees of Super 1 Foods who showed true heroism by ushering customers out of the way of danger, preventing serious injuries and potentially saving lives,” he wrote. “We would like to recognize the incredible, and instantaneous response of the community of Columbia Falls for assisting with securing the building and cleaning up the mess … This is further proof of what an incredible community we are all blessed to be a part of.”

The Super 1 Foods in Columbia Falls was back open Friday morning.

[Just Jeepin']

I highly recommend people flip through the gallery at that link. Frankly I'm surprised it isn't even worse.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@just-jeepin It's crazy that the damage seemed so localized. I'm kind of surprised he managed to get out without more crashing. And of course it was an old Chevy Lumina.

[NomDePlume]

I attended a Friday the 13th 2020 MADNESS sale at a grocery store today. That's not damage inside the store.

Everyone froze as a good 15 second long chain of items falling and loudly hitting the floor from a reasonably good height ensued. Then with a glint in their eye commenced panic buying ThanksCoviding supplies in bulk. Product damage was so rampant I watched one female employee with four overflowing trashcans tied together be pushed backwards by the crowd with a blank look I haven't seen since early days of the pandemic coinciding with rioting.

[NomDePlume]

Almost forgot, good to see you decided to make an account here @Highlander

Formatting takes a bit of getting used to initially. Expect things to get considerably more usable once the tech guys workload after work (due to the unexpectedly large influx of new members) catches up with demand.

Adding thumbnails to post titles on the main page is the most contrived bit. If you link to something make sure it isn't larger than say a few hundred pixels in any direction. Also if you directly upload any photos try to keep them as small as possible to lighten load on the surprisingly stable but under equipped server.

[Chariotoflove]

Holy crap, this is quite an escalation from butt-dialed 911 calls and roaming doggos. Is the End of Times coming to Flathead County?

[Highlander]

@nomdeplume I'm pretty clueless on how this works right now. I'm just cross posting so I have the log in before the big shut down of 2020 starts.
I want a fat bike, does that make me a bad person?

[Highlander]

@nomdeplume asdfasdfasdf

[Alfalfa]

The end of the world started in Flathead County. Nobody saw it coming.

[NomDePlume]

@highlander said in First flathead county police blotter is a doozy:

I want a fat bike, does that make me a bad person?

Depends on if you buy a Surly or something respectable.

Kidding aside, vast majority of the people I ride with on the road are mtb racers who spend better than 50% their time on a fatbike because it's so flat here.

Which is exactly where I see you having trouble. They are not very maneuverable even if you have the power and skills to make one fun on steep terrain in deep snow.

Up here as soon as snow starts anyone with a set of snowshoes is actively pushed out on trails to tamp them down. That is vital. Even 6" tires go nowhere without groomers or lots of traffic.

[ITA97]

@highlander I might be most impressed that there was a 95 Lumina still driving around at all, much less through the grocery store.

[ranwhenparked]

@highlander said in First flathead county police blotter is a doozy:

Fal

Community members helped to secure the store and clean up the mess? Damn, around where I live, the place would have been picked clean of every piece of merchandise, and they would have busted out the walls to grab the copper wire for good measure.

[This is what we'll show...]

Not the RC cola!!!

[pip bip]

@highlander champion! hence why drugs, not even once.

[NomDePlume]

@ranwhenparked said in First flathead county police blotter is a doozy:

@highlander said in First flathead county police blotter is a doozy:

Fal

Community members helped to secure the store and clean up the mess? Damn, around where I live, the place would have been picked clean of every piece of merchandise, and they would have busted out the walls to grab the copper wire for good measure.

I fear you don't understand how small towns, and especially small towns invaded by tourists, work. From tomorrow morning in church through well into the nursing home years, those present will be dining out on this moment.

Plus small mountain communities instinctively close ranks and secure vital elements such as food.