Man pursued by police now faces two charges
A Kalispell man arrested Sunday after leading police on a pursuit and escaping on foot four days earlier is now facing a pair of charges in Flathead District Court.
Ryan Denny is alleged to have tried to steal a 2011 Chevy pickup in the parking lot of the Evergreen Kmart and then to have been run off by an employee before fleeing in another vehicle. Denny allegedly led police on a chase through Kalispell and out of town on U.S. 2 West.
The vehicle eventually got stuck on a two-track road in a heavily wooded area off Spruce Hollow Trail. Denny allegedly got out and ran on foot, escaping from police.
Denny originally was arrested on preliminary charges of burglary, possession of dangerous drugs, criminal mischief, theft and resisting arrest. However, the Flathead County Attorney’s Office chose to officially charge Denny only with felony drug possession and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
A court document alleges a search of Denny’s car turned up a baggie containing a white cotton substance, five pipes and multiple pills, some of them crushed and in “partial powder form.” The document says a detective identified four of the pipes as methamphetamine pipes and one as a marijuana pipe. A field test reportedly indicated residue found in the cotton substance to be methamphetamine.
If convicted of both charges, Denny faces up to six months in the Flathead County Detention Center and five years in the Montana State Prison, as well as a fine of up to $51,500 and any restitution. An arraignment hearing has been set for Oct. 8.
He is currently incarcerated in the county jail, where his bond is set at $50,000.
Denny was charged in 2011 with felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer, but later pleaded guilty to the amended charge of misdemeanor criminal mischief.
That case initially alleged Denny slashed all four tires, dented the hood and kicked in the windshield of a vehicle belonging to a woman who came by his house accompanied by his wife.
It also alleged that a Kalispell police officer later located Denny and followed him in his patrol car before getting out and making contact. A court document alleged that when Denny was told to drop what he was holding and get on his knees he replied, “(Expletive) you. I didn’t do anything. (Expletive) you, cop, shoot me.”
Denny then allegedly led that officer and several others on a foot chase before they apprehended him.
He was also charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor drunken driving in a 2008 case, but both charges were later dismissed.