Would-be thief made a bad bet

The Daily Inter Lake

A would-be thief was foiled Friday afternoon at Nickel Charlie's Casino in Kalispell when patrons and employees nabbed the suspect in the parking lot.

According to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, the man, who had a knife but did not brandish it, reportedly asked the keno runner to make change for a $100 bill. When she got out her bank apron, he grabbed the money inside - nearly $1,000 - and ran outside.

A man in the casino told deputies he heard the keno runner yelling and saw her chasing the man. He followed them into the parking lot, where he reportedly wrestled the man to the ground.

The Sheriff's Office received the call at about 4:30 p.m. Friday. Deputies arrested the 39-year-old transient man in connection with the robbery.

A similar theft occurred at the Best Bet Casino on East Idaho Street in Kalispell on Thursday afternoon, when a man robbed an employee at knife point. The robber made off with about $100.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the Kalispell Police Department is investigating whether the cases are related.