The proprietor of a late-night Whitefish taxi service has denied allegations that he pepper-sprayed a man in the face earlier this year.
Brian Murchie pleaded not guilty to felony assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court on May 7.
According to court documents, the Whitefish Police Department received a report of an assault shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 24 at the intersection of Railway Street and Central Avenue. When officers arrived, they talked to a man who said he was leaving the Craggy Range Bar and Grill and taking photos of his girlfriend when Murchie grabbed the man, took his phone, forced him to the ground and pepper sprayed him in the face.
Murchie later told officers a different story, saying that the man had threatened him. Police found that Murchie had the other man’s cell phone in his possession.
This is not the first time Murchie has been charged with assault. In 2002, a jury found Murchie guilty of second-degree assault stemming from an incident at a Spokane, Washington bar. According to court documents, Murchie hit a man in the head with a foot-long metal flashlight after showing the victim a fake FBI badge. Murchie appealed the decision but it was later overruled.
If convicted of assault with a weapon, Murchie could face up to 20 years in prison and be fined $50,000. He is set to go to trial in October.
The Ride Guy is a nonprofit, late-night ride service that has operated since 2009. The service does not accept money or tips and survives off donations to give people rides home from the downtown area.