Prosecutors: Man fought with officers sent to recover stolen phone

A 32-year-old Kalispell man accused of stealing a woman's phone in April is staring down multiple charges after allegedly fighting with the police officers sent to retrieve the device.  

Thomas James Sorkness Jr. faces a felony charge of assault on a peace officer and misdemeanor counts of obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest following the alleged struggle with Kalispell Police officers in his Appleway Drive home. Sorkness, released from custody on a $65,000 surety bond, pleaded not guilty before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court on May 5.  

Sorkness is expected back in court on Sept. 22 for a pretrial conference.  

Officers began looking for Sorkness about 1:20 p.m., April 27 after a neighbor on Appleway Drive reported seeing Sorkness outside arguing with a woman, according to court documents. Arriving officers were flagged down by the woman, who accused Sorkness of stealing her phone.  

Officers found Sorkness outside his home and tried to talk to him about the phone, but he headed toward his front door. Worried that he might arm himself if he went inside — Sorkness was known to carry a pistol and was recently arrested while wearing body armor — the officers attempted to keep him in sight, court documents said. As they talked, Sorkness denied the theft allegations and accused the woman of stealing his phone, court documents said.   

Growing defiant, Sorkness appeared as though he were going to duck inside his home, prompting one officer to step forward and try and put him in handcuffs, according to court documents. As a second officer grabbed hold of Sorkness, the 32-year-old allegedly began struggling and pulled the two inside.  

During the struggle an officer pulled a folding knife from Sorkness' pocket and tossed it down a hallway, court documents said. The other officer grabbed Sorkness' shirt, ripping it as they grappled. Sorkness' oven was knocked over in the fray, court documents said.  

Getting Sorkness in a bear hug, one officer held him while the other deployed their Taser, according to court documents. The device malfunctioned on the officer’s first attempt to hit Sorkness and only one probe struck home during the second attempt. On a third and successful use of the Taser, Sorkness fell on top of the oven, court documents said. 

As Sorkness sat up, officers told him to stay where he was and tried to get handcuffs on him. But Sorkness allegedly began to pull his hands away. After issuing another warning, the officers deployed a Taser on him again, court documents said.   

With the arrival of several more officers, an allegedly still struggling Sorkness was walked to a police cruiser. During a search, authorities removed a multitool and a utility knife from his pockets, court documents said.  

Sorkness continued to fight, kicking an officer several times and causing him pain, according to court documents.  

In the charging documents, prosecutors wrote that Sorkness is involved in two pending criminal possession of dangerous drugs cases and was convicted of felony assault with a weapon in a case dating to 2016. He has multiple misdemeanor convictions, including assault, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer and partner or family member assault. 

If convicted of the more serious charge of assault on a peace officer, Sorkness faces between two and 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.