Washington man arrested in connection with Bigfork break-ins

A suspect was apprehended in connection with a series of early morning break-ins at multiple Montana 35 businesses Dec. 11. Christopher David Van Natta, of Everett, Washington, was apprehended in Whitefish and booked into the Flathead County Detention Center on Friday, Dec. 12, on a disorderly conduct charge.

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said his office was able to link Van Natta to the reported acts of vandalism in Bigfork through a combination of video footage and an interview with Van Natta. According to dispatch logs, multiple parties from Bigfork businesses reported break-ins that morning, including bricks thrown through windows. Sites that were subject to vandalism included Sliters Lumber and Building Supply, Hillside Pub and Grub, El Topo Cantina, Rocky Mountain Cannabis, Conrad Floral and J Scott Couture, Heino said. Investigations into other locations are still ongoing.

An alarm was triggered at Sliters in the early morning hours of Dec. 11 and a smashed door was observed, dispatch logs show. Deputies responded to the scene and cleared the building. Multiple other callers from undisclosed Montana 35 locations also reported bricks thrown through their windows, according to the logs.

Van Natta faces charges of felony burglary and disorderly conduct and is being held on a $51,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear for his arraignment at 9 a.m. on Jan. 2 before District Court Judge Robert Allison in Flathead County District Court.