Man accused of pulling handgun on workers faces felony charge

Prosecutors filed charges this week against a 27-year-old man accused of leveling a handgun at an employee of a Kalispell veterans organization after an argument.  

Franco Mijael Vera Quispe faces a felony assault with a weapon charge and a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence in Flathead County District Court following his Dec. 8 arrest in Kalispell. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Dan Wilson on Dec. 19 for his arraignment. 

Kalispell Police officers began searching for Vera Quispe about 1:09 a.m. after an employee at the First Avenue West veterans organization reported an individual, who refused to leave, arguing with workers and patrons. Vera Quispe left as authorities headed to the downtown Kalispell location, court documents said.  

He allegedly hopped into a four-door Subaru before driving over a curb and into a fence. Maneuvering to the front of the veterans organization, Vera Quispe stopped, pulled out a handgun and aimed it at an employee, court documents said.  

Officers spotted the Subaru en route to the scene and initiated a traffic stop in a nearby parking lot, according to court documents. Vera Quispe allegedly was slow to respond to commands, failed to follow directions and used his car door to balance during the stop.  

Handcuffing him, officers searched Vera Quispe for weapons, but found none, court documents said. But they spotted a bullet and empty holster inside the sedan, according to court documents.  

Arresting officers reported that Vera Quispe appeared drunk. Slow to respond, he struggled to maintain his balance, boasted bloodshot, droopy eyes and slurred speech, court documents alleged.  

Asked to provide a breath sample, Vera Quispe allegedly failed to give officers an affirmative response. They put him down as refusing to submit to the test, court documents said.  

Vera Quispe later allegedly told investigators the gun and Subaru belonged to his girlfriend. 

While he remains behind bars with bail set at $75,000 on the felony and misdemeanor counts, U.S. Border Patrol agents out of Spokane, Washington requested he also be placed on a federal hold.  

If convicted of the more serious crime, Vera Quispe 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.