Law roundup: Prank drives stepparent to call police

A man reportedly went into a restaurant to pick up an order while his friend and his stepchild waited in his truck. He became alarmed when the friend got in the driver’s seat and took off. The friend returned with the youth about 30 minutes later, alleging they were trying to prank him by going to Columbia Falls, but came back when they realized his cellphone was still in the truck.  Parties were counseled and the stepparent did not want to pursue any charges against his friend.  

A man evicted from a residence asked if it was legal for a landlord to give him 20 minutes to pack his belongings. Officers got the full story when they contacted the landlord who alleged that he and his friends were sitting around smoking, so she gave them 20 minutes “to get out,” but agreed to let them finish moving “as long as they stayed productive.” Officers advised the man of this, reminding him that he already failed to pack promptly after being served an eviction notice and had previously been moved off the property by police.  

A 73-year-old man was allegedly stalking someone and took a photo of their dad while he was picking them up for work.  

A drive-thru customer reportedly thought a man wearing a pink balaclava with his arms crossed was holding a pistol. It turned out to be a cellphone.  

A passerby asked officers to check on the welfare of an elderly man who allegedly took a tumble off a 5-foot berm. The man, who had been drinking, was OK and declined law enforcement's assistance.  

A white Dodge truck with expired license plates reportedly hit a vehicle and fled the scene.  

Someone at a school called 911 but hung up. On the callback, dispatchers spoke to a gym teacher who said the 911 call was accidental and they allegedly thought a man appeared to be passed out, but he was just sleeping.