Law Roundup: One person’s trash is another’s treasure

An assistant store manager ran into a spot of trouble after a clerk picked up what they deemed a bag of refuse left at the location and tossed it into the trash compactor. The employees contacted the Kalispell Police Department after the woman who owned the bag returned and demanded her items back. Apparently, the black garbage bag — left in a shopping cart — contained dirty clothes, rocks, sticks and paraphernalia. The employees agreed to direct the woman, if she returned again, to the police department to file a complaint.

Threats made by an ex-boyfriend to burn down the couple’s mobile coffee shop prompted a woman to call authorities. In addition to reporting the threatened arson, she had questions about the legality of handing over the trailer as it was in her name. Officers recommended she speak first with an attorney as that seemed a civil matter. They recommended she phone them back if her ex made any other threats of violence.

Store employees turned over surveillance footage of a man allegedly walking out with purple and lace lingerie worth about $50. They told officers that images of the suspected thief were posted to social media and several people had identified him.

A mother contacted police after her 19-year-old daughter threatened to take her 11-year-old sibling following an argument. She told officers the argument began after she told the 19-year-old to leave for “not respecting household rules.” Officers separated the trio and planned to follow up.

Employees of a local store asked to have a man they suspected of stealing parts from snow plows trespassed.

Cyber criminals attempted to cash a fraudulent check written against a business account. The man reporting the attempt said it had happened once before. Officers noted that he had already secured his credit and bank account information, and reported the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Calling from Great Falls, an employee at a dentist’s office asked that police track down a new patient. She apparently had planned on coming from the Kalispell area, but failed to show up for an appointment. When they spoke on the phone, the patient thought they were near Great Falls, but then revealed that she was on Kalispell’s west side. Officers unsuccessfully attempted to locate the woman.

A clowder of stray cats living under an outbuilding prompted a call to the authorities. Officers checked with animal control and learned there were no cat-related ordinances on the books.

Someone walked into the lobby of the police department and asked to speak with the ranking officer about “some citations.”