Kalispell man charged with seventh DUI

A Kalispell man has been charged with a seventh instance of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

Ralph Herbert Brander, 54, is being held on $75,000 bail in the felony case. 

According to court documents, Brander was stopped Oct. 28 at approximately 9:35 p.m. in the southbound lane of Montana 83. A trooper observed the vehicle Brander was driving allegedly drifting within its lane, going over the fog line multiple times and nearly crossing the center line as oncoming vehicles approached. 

The trooper stopped Brander, who allegedly had slow and slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. Brander allegedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests and blew over the legal limit when a breath test was requested. Brander allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and provided a blood sample at the hospital that was sent to Montana State Crime Lab.

Brander has prior DUI convictions from 2008, 2005, 1998, 1997 and two in 1994. 

He will be arraigned on Nov. 23.

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