Man arrested outside of shelter injured police officer, prosecutors allege

A Kalispell man accused of fighting with a police officer after allegedly starting fires outside of a local homeless shelter earlier this month is now facing a felony charge in Flathead County District Court.

Authorities are holding Joshua William Myers-Starks, 37, in the county jail with bail set at $100,000 following his Oct. 17 arrest outside the North Meridian Road shelter. He is expected to appear before Judge Robert Allison on Nov. 16 for his arraignment on a single count of felony assault on a peace officer.

Shelter staff summoned Kalispell Police officers to the facility about 7:53 p.m. for help with a man, later identified as Myers-Starks, allegedly lighting objects on fire, court documents said. Workers told officers that attempted to burn items the night prior and was warned about his behavior.

The first-arriving officer told Myers-Starks the shelter had banned him from the property for 14 days, court documents said. While Myers-Starks allegedly argued that he could stay, the officer warned that refusing to leave could result in arrest.

Putting out a cigarette, Myers-Starks initially appeared to head out of the area, but turned and tried to slip inside the shelter, court documents said.

The maneuver prompted the officer to grab Myers-Starks’ arms from behind, court documents alleged. Myers-Starks responded by allegedly butting the officer with the back of his head. After Myers-Stark spun around, the two began grappling, with the 37-year-old punching the officer’s head, according to court documents.

The officer eventually got an arm around Myers-Starks’ head and moved him to the ground as other law enforcement personnel arrived, court documents said. Authorities took him to the Flathead County Detention Center soon after.

The officer suffered cuts to his left ear and forehead, swelling on his face and bruising beneath his left eye, court documents said. A later evaluation at a Logan Health facility revealed a possibly severe pectoral muscle injury potentially requiring surgery.

The officer remains unable to work owing to his injuries, according to court documents.

Prosecutors filed the assault charge against Myers-Starks as he awaited a forthcoming change of plea hearing in an unrelated felony burglary case. He is accused of breaking into a Kalispell tobacconist’s shop in December 2022, smashing a drive-thru window and stealing candy, according to court documents.

Myers-Starks has two previous felony burglary convictions dating to 2012 and 2013, court documents said.

If convicted of assault on a peace officer, Myers-Starks faces between two and 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.