Man pleads not guilty to punching store manager

A Flathead Valley man accused of threatening a woman with brass knuckles earlier this year has landed back in trouble after he allegedly assaulted a grocery store manager.

Robert Wayne Dempsey, 45, was taken into custody Sept. 17 after being charged with burglary following an alleged altercation at a Kalispell grocery store, less than two weeks after he was sentenced for the first crime.

Thursday in Flathead County District Court, Dempsey appeared for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty. His next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 25. He is being held on $55,000 bail.

According to court documents, Dempsey was removed from the grocery store Sept. 17 and told not to return. Then, later that same day at 11:03 p.m., a Kalispell Police officer responded to a fight at the same store. When the officer spoke to the store manager, the manager alleged Dempsey punched him in the face and left the store.

The officer saw Dempsey walking near the store. He spoke to Dempsey, who allegedly said he was upset with the manager for kicking him off the property earlier and he went back to the store to punch the manager in the face.

According to a written statement from the store manager, Dempsey approached him and asked for a manager. The manager asked Dempsey to leave and the suspect allegedly began punching the manager in the face.

The officer confirmed the manager suffered a minor injury to his mouth.

Dempsey is facing a sentence revocation on the assault charge. He received a six-month suspended sentence in the brass knuckle case.

In that case, Dempsey was accused of approaching a woman at Lion’s Park in Kalispell on May 18. According to charging documents, the woman was sitting in her car when Dempsey allegedly approached her car, yelled profanities at her and displayed the brass knuckles.

The woman left the park and called for help. When four Kalispell Police officers arrived at the park, they saw a man matching Dempsey’s description. When he was searched, a pair of brass knuckles were found.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or shindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.