Man charged for confronting homeless people with gun on Kalispell's Parkline Trail

Kalispell Police officers arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly confronting homeless people camping along the Parkline Trail with a loaded gun on Oct. 19.

Charles Michael Wilson faces a felony count of assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court following his arrest. He is expected to appear before Judge Robert Allison on Nov. 16 for his arraignment.

Officers responded to the area where the multi-use trail runs above Woodland Park about 7:03 p.m. for a report of a man pointing a gun at people, court documents said. While searching the area, they came across a woman who told them she had earlier made a complaint about homeless people camped out along the trail, according to court documents.

She also allegedly told authorities that the father of her child related to her how he had confronted people on the trail. When they approached him, he pulled out a gun, she said, according to court documents.

When officers found Wilson, he allegedly recounted yelling at people on the trail to keep away from his wife and child. They instead walked aggressively toward him, prompting him to pull a pistol from his waistband, court documents said.

Wilson said he pointed the weapon at the ground and yelled at them again, warning them not to approach him or he would kill them, according to court documents.

Checking surveillance footage of the trail taken at 7:02 p.m., officers saw a man walking along the trail pull out a pistol and rack a round into the chamber, court documents said. The man approached a homeless encampment and pointed the gun in the vicinity of two inhabitants, according to court documents.

Officers subsequently seized a 9 mm with a full magazine and one round in the chamber from Wilson, court documents said.

If convicted of assault with a weapon, Wilson faces up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine.

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