Whitefish man gets probation for assaulting federal worker

A 27-year-old Whitefish resident was sentenced to three years of probation during U.S. District Court hearings in Missoula on Jan. 6 after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal employee.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Paul Anthony Prince stopped his car behind that of a Forest Service law enforcement officer on July 1, 2011.

The officer asked him for his driver’s license but he refused and also refused several times to provide his name and date of birth.

Prince also refused a field sobriety test.

Another officer approached the two when he heard their conversation. He asked Prince to get out of his car, but Prince again refused. He was finally successful in getting Prince to exit his vehicle when he placed one hand on Prince’s arm and the other hand on his Taser.

Prince continued to refuse a field sobriety test.

At that point, Prince moved toward the first officer with his fists clenched, and the officer attempted to handcuff him as a struggle ensued. The two officers brought Prince down, but he pulled his arms under his body so they could not handcuff him and then rolled around and kicked his legs.

One of the officers then used a Taser on Prince and they were able to handcuff him. As they walked him to one of the officers’ truck, he attempted to head-butt one of them  but missed.

When he was brought to the truck and one of the officers opened the rear door to the transport cage in his truck, Prince head-butted the inside of the rear passenger window, shattering it.

The officers Tased him again and were able to put him inside the vehicle.

Along with the three years of probation, Prince was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment and $246.90 in restitution.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations Division.