Whitefish man denies knife assault, threatening officer

A Whitefish man is facing charges of assault and threatening a police officer and the officer's family during his arrest last month.

Gabriel Steven Little Dog, 42, pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of threats in official matters in Flathead District Court May 18.

According to court documents, Little Dog was initially reported April 18 for punching his girlfriend, pulling her hair and threatening her with a knife.

The woman stated she begged to be released several times during the incident before she finally escaped from her residence in Whitefish, fled to North Valley Hospital and called the police.

Court records state a Flathead County sheriff's deputy apprehended Little Dog near the woman's residence. During his arrest, Little Dog allegedly threatened the deputy and his family, stating he knew the deputy's family members and where he lived.

Little Dog also allegedly told the deputy to pull the patrol vehicle over in order to engage in a physical fight and threatened to put him and his family on a list to be physically harmed in the future.

During his arraignment, Little Dog requested for a bail reduction and to be released on his own recognizance. Judge Heidi Ulbricht denied the request, sending Little Dog into an outrage of name-calling and claims of “false imprisonment” before he was escorted from the courtroom by three sheriff's deputies.

A jury trial was set for Sept. 11.

If convicted, Little Dog could face up to 30 years in prison for the combined charges and a maximum $50,000 fine for each.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.