POLSON — A former Polson building inspector has been charged with threatening to kill three other city employees a day after he was fired.
Ronald Phillip Melvin did not enter a plea when he appeared Wednesday in Justice Court on charges alleging threats and improper influence in official or political matters, the Lake County Leader reported.
His bail was set at $5,000 and he must wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet if he is released. He also is forbidden to go within 500 feet of City Hall or the residences of the employees involved in the case.
Melvin was fired Monday and arrested Tuesday. Court records said he left a message on a city phone threatening to kill City Manager Todd Crossett unless he resigned by the end of the week. He also is accused of threatening to kill city attorney James Raymond and a third employee.
“It’s sensitive for everyone, but it doesn’t matter who you are, if you make threats, intoxicated or not, they need to be taken seriously,” Police Chief Wade Nash said.
Melvin pleaded guilty to DUI in Jefferson County on May 1 after being arrested April 4 by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper who spotted a Polson city truck with two flat tires on the side of Interstate 90.
Court records say Melvin’s blood-alcohol level was 0.265, more than three times the legal limit.
The Lake County attorney’s office said Thursday they do not believe Melvin has an attorney yet.
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