Trout Creek man arrested in shooting case

A team effort by Northwest Montana law enforcement agencies led to the arrest Friday of a suspect in a Trout Creek shooting.

According to information from the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, West Flockerzi, of Trout Creek, was taken into custody early Friday morning after a standoff that lasted several hours.

Flockerzi is accused of attempting to burn down a hotel and firing a gun in the presence of deputies Wednesday evening.

The Sanders County Sheriff’s Office said dispatch received a report about a man, later identified as Flockerzi, who had tried to start a fire at the Lakeside Motel in Trout Creek. Police also allege he pointed a gun at another person at the scene.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the hotel and while speaking with witnesses, the man returned and fired more shots into another nearby building before fleeing in a vehicle. The deputies pursued the suspect but lost sight of him.

Other law enforcement officers from surrounding agencies responded, but after several hours, officers were unable to locate the man.

According to the sheriff office’s investigation, information indicated that Flockerzi was armed and had anticipated a shootout with law enforcement. The county requested assistance from the Missoula County Tactical Response Team due to that threat. An armored unit from the Kalispell Police Department was used by Missoula County in the standoff.

Sanders County authorities said there were no injuries.

They also thanked the Missoula County Special Response Team and Kalispell Police for their assistance in resolving this situation safely.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.