Man charged with assaulting deputies with bear spray

A Flathead County felon is facing new charges after allegedly assaulting two sheriff’s deputies with bear spray late Sunday night in Evergreen.

The deputies had been called because a man was reportedly peeping in the window of Lane’s Conoco.

According to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry, the deputies encountered Devin Andrew Lelm, 23.

They were going to question Lelm when he allegedly pulled out a can of bear spray and discharged it at the two deputies. Lelm took off on foot but was caught by the deputies, Curry said.

Court documents say both law officers experienced pain and temporary blindness because of the spray.

“The officers were OK,” Curry said. “They were taken to the hospital. They are both doing fine.”

Lelm is set to be arraigned on March 3 on two counts of felony assault on a peace officer.

He is currently serving two five-year sentences with the Montana Department of Corrections for felony assault with a weapon and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The sentences were handed down on April 30, 2015, by Flathead District Judge David Ortley.

One of the five-year sentences was suspended in its entirety. The other was recommended to include a placement in a community-based correctional program targeted toward chemical abusers, followed by placement in a prerelease program.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.