Standoff ends in arrest

A Columbia Falls man has been arrested following a four-hour standoff with law enforcement on Thursday afternoon. 

Mitchel Lewis Anderson, 31, was arrested on two counts of felony theft of a motor vehicle and burglary after allegedly breaking into a cabin on Jellison Road. 

A neighbor had called the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office after noticing a suspicious man at an unoccupied cabin. The responding deputy found two vehicles parked at the residence that had been reported stolen from Columbia Falls within the last few days. 

It appeared a man was in the cabin, which was locked. 

Repeated attempts to get the man to answer the door were unsuccessful. Law officers contacted the owner of the cabin, who told them no one had permission to be in the residence and that he did not know who the man was. 

A key to the cabin was obtained, and when deputies opened the door the man stated he had a gun. A perimeter was established around the cabin and Flathead County SWAT and negotiators responded. 

Negotiations went on for four hours. 

Anderson was arrested without incident. No weapon was found inside the cabin. 

On Friday afternoon in Kalispell, officers blocked off East Oregon Street during an incident involving a woman with a gun.

The woman reportedly was taken into custody.