Protests create pandemonium

The Whitefish Police Department received a call from a man who wanted it noted that he would be “preaching the gospel” near the bars in downtown Whitefish on Saturday evening, and was expecting a group of about a dozen others to be joining him. Later Saturday night police took several calls reporting crowds of people fighting and blocking traffic downtown. One caller reported that people were yelling “you’re going to burn in hell” at passers-by, and another caller was concerned that the “religious people” were being too loud and offensive and thought the situation might get violent. Officers responded to keep the crowds under control.

A caller reported a mountain lion sighting in the area of Carver Bay Road.

Officers counseled members of a rowdy bachelorette party at a hotel on U.S. 93 after several noise complaints.

A business on Spokane Avenue was allegedly vandalized, with a glass door reportedly busted and glass everywhere.

A Washington Avenue resident called to report an unknown and unwelcome vehicle parked in the driveway. When the vehicle’s owners couldn’t be found, the homeowner had it towed.

The Columbia Falls Police Department responded to several calls about protesters. One business owner on First Avenue West reportedly had a “verbal altercation” with a group of protesters who decided the business’ parking lot was an ideal spot for their demonstration. The group was advised not to protest on private property, such as parking lots.

Another caller later the same day reported a group of protesters on the road, blocking a business driveway and “yelling inflammatory remarks” at his customers. The protesters were allegedly unhappy about the demonstration being unwelcome, and said they would be moving their grievances to Whitefish or Columbia Falls. It was unclear if the groups of protesters involved in the complaints were the same people.

The Kalispell Fire Department responded to an illegal burn on Fourth Avenue East.

The Coram-West Glacier Fire Department responded to reports of smoke near Kickbusch Lane.