Kidnap suspect charged with assault
Charges have been filed in Flathead County against a man who faces several felonies in Washington state after he allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend in Kila last month.
Joseph Michael Crowell, 36, has been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and theft. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office lists him as a Kalispell resident.
Crowell is currently being held in jail in Cowlitz County, Washington. There, he faces felony counts of kidnapping, possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding, assault and malicious mischief. He also faces misdemeanor charges including driving while intoxicated.
Crowell is accused of assaulting Linda Ravicher at her home near Ashley Lake. According to court documents related to the Flathead County case, Crowell admitted “shoving” Ravicher, which knocked her out.
In interviews with authorities, Ravicher was disoriented when she made the initial 911 call. Days later, she was being treated at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center for a severe concussion and retrograde amnesia, according to court documents. A detective noted that she had extensive bruising and two black eyes.
On the day of the assault, Crowell allegedly hit his girlfriend, Amber Smelt, over the head with a beer bottle and forced her into Ravicher’s Subaru. Ravicher is Smelt’s aunt.
The next day, authorities in Cowlitz County, Washington, received a 911 call from Smelt. She said she had been kidnapped by Crowell in Montana and they had traveled to Washington.
Crowell reportedly forced her to drive at times. It was during one of those stretches that Smelt pulled up close to a guardrail so that Crowell couldn’t get out on the passenger side. She ran from the car to a nearby recreational-vehicle park and made the emergency call.
Cowlitz County authorities later spotted the Subaru with Crowell at the wheel. He drove away from police, ramming two cruisers before surrendering, according to reports.
A breath test showed Crowell had a blood-alcohol level of 0.27, more than three times the legal limit.
Crowell’s charges in Flathead County reflect only the alleged assault on Ravicher. Prosecuting attorney John Donovan said that he filed the charged according to the law enforcement reports provided to him.
Crowell is on probation for convictions of felony criminal endangerment and criminal mischief from a 2008 case. Court records show that his probation officer filed a report of violation less than two weeks before the alleged assault.
He is currently going through court proceedings in Cowlitz County and is held on $250,000 bail.
A court date in Flathead County has not been set.
Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.