Hungry Horse man accused of throwing firework at crowd

The Hungry Horse area historically has seen its share of fireworks-related incidents during the July 4 holiday.

Last Sunday in the Canyon was no exception.

According to charging documents, a local man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested and jailed after allegedly throwing mortar-type fireworks at a crowd of people and a Flathead County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle.

Justin Andrew Walker, 30, of Hungry Horse, is charged with one felony count of criminal endangerment and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest after the July 4 incidents.

In a court document detailing the alleged crimes, a deputy reported a man had thrown a mortar-type firework at a patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Later on Sunday evening, another deputy reported seeing a man light another mortar-type firework and throw it across Hungry Horse Boulevard into a crowd of between 75 and 100 people who were gathered near a DJ booth.

The people in the crowd were seen running away as the device exploded. When an officer went after the man, later identified as Walker, he ran from the scene despite the officer's commands to stop.

Another deputy joined in the chase and tackled the man. A brief struggle followed before Walker was handcuffed. Other deputies arrived and identified Walker as the man who threw the firework at the patrol vehicle earlier in the day.

Walker denied throwing either firework.

He was released from the Flathead County Detention Center on Friday. His arraignment is scheduled for next Thursday.

In 2009, Walker pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and received a three-year deferred sentence for stealing a Bobcat Pioneer and damaging it after driving it on a motorcross track.

But after a forgery charge landed him in trouble again, Walker’s original, deferred sentence was revoked and he was sentenced to seven years, with five suspended.

In 2010, Walker was charged with passing counterfeit money and received a six-month suspended sentence.

In 2012, Walker was charged with assault with a weapon and assaulting a peace officer after an incident involving a knife. He pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and received a 10-year sentence, with five suspended, to a state Department of Corrections facility.

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