Suspicious man was merely taking a nap before church opens

The Columbia Falls Police Department was called about at suspicious man “slumped over his wheel” in his car in a church parking lot on Seventh Street West. Further investigation found he was just napping while he waited for the church to open on Christmas morning.

A two-car collision along Martha Road led to the arrest of one driver for possession of drug paraphernalia. There were no injuries, but one car had to be towed away from the scene.  

A large group of people fought outside a bar on Nucleus Avenue, almost causing an accident after the fight spilled into the street. The brawl left one man with a bloody nose. Officers broke up the scene.

A cashier at a liquor store on U.S. 93 South in Whitefish refused to sell alcohol to a man who was “very intoxicated,” according to the Whitefish Police Department. The man, who has black fingernails and a tattoo on his hand, was “staggering and saying foul words to the cashier.” Officers were unable to locate him.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office was called about a woman in a store on U.S. 2 East in Kalispell. She had been caught on tape stealing items from the store in previous visits and the store manager wanted her escorted out by officers. Nothing was reported stolen during this visit.

A man on North Hill Road said a dog appeared at his house “covered with frost and ice,” so the caller “de-iced” the dog. After thawing, the dog, a red-and-white border collie cross with black collar and no tags, was taken to the county animal shelter.

While some wolves were reportedly feeding on a carcass on Echo Chalet Drive, a nearby resident spotted a man stalking the wolves. The caller reported the man, afraid he would shoot toward homes.

An intersection on Meadow Lake Boulevard was reported as “all ice.” The caller said he slid right through the intersection.

Opened mail was found in a flowerbed on North Cedar Drive in Kalispell. The caller reported finding Christmas cards that had been opened and discarded in her yard. Officers delivered the mail to the intended recipient.

A caller reported a man who kept pushing a garbage can into the middle of U.S. 2 East in Columbia Falls. The trash can would be removed and then the man would push it into the roadway again.