Man denies hit-and-run charges

A Kalispell man denied involvement in a hit-and-run incident in which he allegedly threatened another man with two weapons in March.

Arthur Erickson, 18, pleaded not guilty April 13 to a charge of assault with a weapon and criminal mischief in Flathead District Court.

According to court documents, the alleged victim said he had backed into a parking space at Woodland Park when someone punched the back of his car.

He and the man, identified as Erickson, began to argue when Erickson went to his truck and allegedly got a gun, yelling, “What are you going to do about it now?”

Erickson then allegedly returned the gun to the car and approached the man again with a knife.

When the man got in his vehicle to leave, Erickson allegedly got into his own car, backed up and then rammed his car into the driver’s side of the man’s car. The front of the man’s car was smashed and the front bumper and headlights were reportedly torn off.

A trial has been set to begin Sept. 11.