Kila man hit with felony charge for allegedly threatening hospital worker with knife
Clifford Daniel Joseph. (Photo courtesy the Flathead County Sheriff's Office)
A Kila man allegedly threatened a hospital worker with a knife in the hopes of getting a friend checked into the facility in May.
Clifford Daniel Joseph, 48, faces a felony intimidation charge in Flathead County District Court following the May 17 confrontation in Kalispell. He is expected to appear before Judge Danni Coffman on June 11 for his arraignment.
Scott remains in the county jail with bail set at $50,000.
Joseph approached the registration desk of the hospital sometime before 7:10 p.m., May 17 and told an employee there that if the hospital failed to treat his friend, "they would have to see him," according to court documents. Telling the employee that she didn't seem to understand him, he allegedly pulled a knife out and shook it at her.
Though the hospital worker was separated from Joseph by a pane of Plexiglas, she later told the police that in the past people have tried to climb over the barrier, according to court documents. She also worried for the safety of the other people in the lobby around Joseph, court documents said.
Two nurses arrived before the police and escorted Joseph outside. As they left the building, one of the nurses saw Joseph allegedly reach for the knife again. The other nurse then performed a leg sweep to try and get Joseph to the ground, court documents said.
Responding officers found the pair of nurses, one of them suffering a broken femur in the confrontation, detaining Joseph, according to court documents.
Intimidation is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine.
News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.