A Kalispell man is facing charges of assault on a peace officer after allegedly attacking two sheriff’s deputes with bear spray earlier this week.
Devin Andrew Lelm was arrested on Feb. 1 and remains incarcerated at the Flathead County Detention Center.
According to court documents, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious man looking into the windows of an Evergreen gas station shortly after 1 a.m. on Feb. 1.
Two deputies responded to the location a short time later and made contact with Lelm, who allegedly sprayed both officers in the face with mace meant to stop bears. Despite being temporarily blinded by the bear spray, the deputies were able to subdue Lelm and place him under arrest.
Lelm has been charged with two felony counts of assault on a peace officer and is expected to appear in court next month. If convicted, Lelm could face up to 20 years in prison.
Lelm was previously convicted of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and assault with a weapon and was on probation. In October 2014, Lelm threatened a woman with a knife in the parking lot of the Kalispell Center Mall.