Police officer charged

The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell police officer Troy Holt was charged Wednesday with six misdemeanor crimes.

He has been on administrative leave since May, when he was accused of sexual assault and an investigation began.

On Wednesday, Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan charged Holt with unlawful restraint, three counts of assault and two counts of sexual assault.

According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began when a pastor at Glacier Mountain Fellowship reported to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office that female parishioners had complained to him about Holt's behavior.

Holt, 41, was a pastor-in-training at the church.

Two of the women are in their 20s and two are now 18.

One told the pastor that Holt touched her in a way that made her uncomfortable. Another said that Holt made inappropriate comments. The pastor and church elders met with Holt and offered him the opportunity to meet with the women and respond to their allegations.

He declined and resigned from his church. After the congregation was informed of what happened, two other women came forward with allegations.

The women talked to sheriff's investigators and accused Holt of a number of improprieties. One said that Holt called her when her husband was gone, and at a church retreat touched her.

After she told the pastor, she said Holt pulled her over one night in his patrol car and confronted her about what she had said. He told her "to keep her mouth shut" and accused her of being a liar, documents said. He also reportedly told the woman he could rape her if he chose to, but did not find her attractive and did not want to risk his job and marriage over her.

He allegedly grabbed her arm during this confrontation, thus resulting in the unlawful restraint charge.

Another woman described inappropriate things Holt allegedly told her, and a third described being angry at Holt's repeated touching, "particularly given his position in the church and his status as a police officer."

The fourth woman also said Holt grabbed her without consent.

Justice of the Peace David Ortley released Holt on his recognizance Wednesday. His next day in court likely will be in October.

The Kalispell Police Department is conducting its own internal investigation.

Police Chief Frank Garner said an administrative review has been under way since the allegations were made. He expects some action about Holt's job status will be taken next week.