LAW ROUNDUP: Feds investigate death of grizzly

United States Fish and Wildlife officials are investigating the death of a grizzly bear in the Helena Flats area near Kalispell. Authorities would not release more details about the case, as the death is still under investigation.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Serena Baker said that if anyone is connected to the death of the grizzly, he or she could face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for breaking federal laws that protect threatened or endangered species.

Federal officials are tasked with investigating the deaths of grizzlies because they are protected by federal law.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office fielded a call from a man on Sherman Creek Road, who said that he had killed a bear that was killing his chickens. Fish and game officers were called. No word was given whether the bear was a grizzly.

Whitefish Police received a call from a concerned patron who complained that beer he had purchased tasted bad and had “the stench of death.” The man could not give specific details as to which beer had caused his issues when asked by a dispatcher. The man told the dispatcher that he did not need medical attention, but others might. An officer was sent to give advice to the man.

An officer counseled a man after someone complained that he had left his dog in a car on Seventh Street East. The officer found that the animal was fine and that the windows to the vehicle had been left open so the dog could get air.

A man on Lupfer Avenue complained that workers had come and torn up the street for maintenance and caused his vehicles to be unable to leave his drive. The man was instructed to call the Public Works Department.

Columbia Falls Police told a woman that there was little they could do about her neighbor playing loud music because there is no noise ordinance in place in the town.

Kalispell Police took a report of alleged intimidation of a witness to a crime.

A bike reported stolen from Conrad Drive was found at a pawn shop.

A person called to report that there was a suspicious bag left across from the local Federal Bureau of Investigation Office. Personnel determined that janitorial staff had left behind a bag of garbage.

An officer was unable to locate a man who was allegedly propositioning women in the parking lot of a motel.

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office sent an animal control officer to investigate a report on Foothill Road about a dog allegedly killing nine chickens.

A woman on Larch Lane reported that a dog had killed 11 of her chickens.

A woman called to report that someone had fraudulently written more than $7,000 worth of checks from her business account.

Someone reported that people were allegedly trespassing in order to hunt raccoons on Leisure Island.

A 14-year-old was returned safely to his mother after he set off in a kayak from Lakeside, trying to paddle across to Wayfarers State Park. Others who started out on the journey had turned around and the mother got worried when she lost sight of her son on the horizon.