Man accused of threatening motorist with a machete

A Whitefish man allegedly caught threatening a woman with a machete in the parking lot of a Columbia Falls supermarket earlier this month faces a felony charge in Flathead County District Court.  

Prosecutors brought Steven James Lundgren, 65, up on one count of assault with a weapon following his Aug. 5 arrest. Held in the county jail with bail set at $50,000, he is expected to appear before Judge Danni Coffman for his Aug. 22 arraignment.  

Lundgren was allegedly trying to convince a woman to turn off her vehicle's lights with the machete when a nearby Columbia Falls Police officer heard the argument. The officer intervened after spotting Lundgren raise the broad blade over his head and threaten her, according to court documents.  

Taken into custody, Lundgren told investigators that the lights upset him and he hoped to "intimidate" the woman into turning them off, court documents said. 

The woman told authorities she was smoking a cigarette in her vehicle when Lundgren aggressively approached her, according to court documents. When she refused, he allegedly began waving an object around while threatening to "rip her head off." 

She said she could not make out the object, but suspected it was a pipe, according to court documents. She told authorities that she took the threats seriously and feared for her life.  

Assault with a weapon is punishable by up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a fine of $50,000. 

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