Law roundup: Van life frowned upon

Officers with the Kalispell Police Department explained the city’s camping ordinance to a houseguest who arrived in town to find a veritable no vacancy sign at her destination. The woman, who met with police after an individual reported her for allegedly living out of her vehicle, told officers that she hit upon the idea of sleeping in her van when she realized the home she was visiting was full of kids and pets.

Officers told her to either find a place to bed down inside or move the van, at the very least, into the home’s driveway to comply with the city ordinance.

Someone spotted a man at an intersection pretending to shoot at passing vehicles. When not wielding an imaginary gun, the man, who went shirtless, was walking around and picking up random objects. Officers were unable to find the man.

A vandal kicked in a panel on a homeowner’s fence. The homeowner asked that officers note the incident in case they catch the mischief-maker.

Officers were called in to mediate a parking dispute after the roping off of several spaces drew the ire of a passerby. Officers met with the individual behind the impromptu parking restriction who told them that, as part of a planned city event, the area was being secured for smaller children learning how to ride skateboards. The parking area was sought for its flat surface and was intended for children not yet ready to try out ramps. Officers tried to meet both halfway and asked that the roped off area decrease in overall size to allow for more parking.

A man convinced that his landlord had sent someone to film him contacted police looking for help. When officers got in touch to learn more, they described him as rambling semi-coherently about how the alleged filming represented a threat on his life. He later alleged the landlord sent him threatening texts, but when officers asked for details he started talking about how he was not being taken seriously and explaining how he had been falsely arrested in the past before hanging up.

A store employee asked police to do a walkthrough of the business to possibly deter several suspicious people hanging out in the area.

Someone found a safe left in a planter in an area parking lot. Officers secured the safe.

A couple in a “beat up green car” aroused the suspicion of a resident, who told police that the vehicle had been parked outside of a neighbor’s home for upwards of half an hour. The resident deemed it suspicious because the couple was near a school, but there were no children on the playground. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle.

Police checked an area for signs of fire after a motorist spotted another driver tossing a cigarette out of the window.

A woman called police looking for help in dealing with her foster children, who she accused of slandering her. Officers checked with the city attorney’s office and they deemed it a likely civil matter.

Police were asked to check in on transients living in an area park after a caller reported hearing profanity and a woman crying the night prior.