Brother faces felony for allegedly threatening sibling with kitchen knife

A 32-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly threatening his brother with a knife at their Kalispell area home earlier this month.  

Erick Navarijo faces one count of felony assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court following his Jan. 2 arrest at a home on Tamarack Way. Authorities set his bail at $40,000, but he is being held in the county jail at the request of the Department of Homeland Security.  

The victim, Navarijo's brother, told Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies that the fight broke out during a night of drinking, according to court documents. He said he had recently invited his brother to Montana to work construction with him.  

The pair began arguing about their job and Navarijo allegedly fetched a kitchen knife. His brother told deputies that he thought Navarijo was preparing to stab him and wrestled the weapon away, court documents said.  

Deputies seized the knife and arrested Navarijo at the scene.  

Navarijo is expected to appear before Judge Heidi Ulbricht on Jan. 22 for his arraignment.  

Assault with a weapon is punishable by 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.