Deputies arrest armed suspect after he allegedly threatened his wife

A man described in court documents as possibly suffering from a mental health crisis is behind bars after authorities arrested him with multiple loaded firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, on U.S. 2 in Kalispell on Saturday.

Steven Piper Ellis, 40, faces one felony count of intimidation in Flathead County District Court following the Jan. 27 incident. Held in county jail with bail set at $60,000, he is expected to appear before Judge Amy Eddy on Feb. 13 for his arraignment. 

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies began looking for Ellis after his wife reported him as suffering from a “schizophrenic issue” in their home about 3:53 a.m., court documents said. She said he gathered up his firearms and threatened to kill her if she refused to join him, court documents alleged.