A 28-year-old Kalispell man has been arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase through town earlier this week before threatening officers with a machete.
Ryan Lewandowski was charged with felony criminal endangerment, criminal intimidation and assault on a peace officer and is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center.
According to the Kalispell Police Department, law enforcement received a report at 10:30 p.m. March 21 of a man threatening employees of a business along U.S. Highway 93 South. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Lewandowski driving away at a high rate of speed, according to police.
Kalispell Police officers and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies chased Lewandowski throughout south Kalispell. One officer trying to deploy spike strips had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by Lewandowski’s car, according to authorities. A sheriff’s deputy was able to successfully deploy a spike strip on Cemetery Road and bring Lewandowski’s vehicle to a stop.
Lewandowski exited the vehicle with a machete and advanced on the officers, according to authorities. Lewandowski was held at gunpoint and eventually dropped the weapon. Officers then used a Taser to subdue the suspect.
Police say additional charges against Lewandowski are likely.