Man allegedly threatened to ‘shoot up' churches, had sniper nest on a property

A rural Columbia Falls man faces felony charges after he allegedly threatened to “shoot up” churches and kill a former partner.

Jacob Daniel Balbas, 33, faces felony intimidation and criminal endangerment charges in Flathead County District Court for separate incidents on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

In one case, dating to Nov. 1, he allegedly issued violent death threats via text message against an ex, who was concerned for her safety and her children’s safety, according to a Columbia Falls Police investigation. 

In the second incident, which occurred Nov. 2, he allegedly threatened churches, according to a police investigation. 

“A chaplain had received a report that Balbas was making homicidal statements and was making threats to 'shoot up' churches throughout the Flathead Valley. The chaplain stated that Balbas believed that he died, spoke to God, and has now returned to save the earth,” according to a Columbia Falls police report. 

Police obtained a warrant and searched Balbas’s home, where they allegedly found a sniper's nest. 

“There was an AR15-style rifle lying next to a window, a 60-round, high-capacity magazine inserted into the weapon, and another 60-round magazine next to the rifle, both fully loaded. The blinds were drawn down, approximately six inches from being fully closed and the screen outside the window had been peeled back in the corner which would enable a shooter to put a barrel through the screen and rest the bipod on the sill of the window. The window directly overlooked the single driveway entrance onto the property. The safety on the rifle was positioned on fire,” the report states. 

There was no other property on the upstairs level of the home. 

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies located Balbas near Jellison Road that same day. He allegedly led them on a high-speed chase that basically made a loop through the west side of Columbia Falls and through the Blue Moon intersection. He was apprehended on Hodgson Road, south of the city. 

Balbas is being held on $1 million bail pending further court appearances.