Jul. 4—Confronted for making a mess in a Kalispell public park in mid-June, a man sought sanctuary in a nearby bar before allegedly threatening police officers and a municipal judge.
Prosecutors brought Jeremy Allen Higgins, 47, up on a slew of charges in Flathead County District Court following his June 12 run-in with Kalispell Police officers at Woodland Park. He is expected to appear before Judge Paul Sullivan on July 17 for his arraignment on a felony count of threats in official matters and misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, obstructing a peace officer and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers summoned to the park about 9:30 p.m. for a man allegedly yelling at a woman and throwing trash around met up with Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies already on scene, according to court documents. The deputies said the woman had left and the man, identified as Higgins, was going to clean up the mess.
But Higgins took off on a bicycle, court documents said. Following along behind, the officers hit their emergency lights and directed Higgins, via loudspeaker, to stop.
Higgins allegedly peddled faster.
Making his way to a nearby bar, the 47-year-old ditched the bicycle and ducked inside, court documents said. Once ensconced in a bathroom stall, he allegedly refused to leave, saying he was defecating.
Eventually, Higgins emerged from the stall and officers handcuffed him. He told the authorities he did not see the police vehicle following him with its emergency lights activated or hear any of the instructions issued over loudspeaker, court documents said.
As Higgins cursed and yelled, officers searched him and found a hypodermic needle and glass bulb pipe adorned with brown residue, according to court documents.
Investigators also learned that Higgins was banned from the park as part of a condition of his release on a case pending in Kalispell Municipal Court.
Higgins allegedly became increasingly irate as officers put him in the back of a patrol vehicle, court documents said. Saying he owned guns, Higgins allegedly threatened to kill an officer’s family. He also threatened to “put one” in the head of a municipal court judge, court documents alleged.
Higgins allegedly told the officers he would direct “criminal friends and drug dealers” to target law enforcement. He underscored it by saying, “Now that is a threat,” according to court documents.
During the subsequent ride to the county jail, Higgins repeatedly yelled out a racial slur, court documents said.
Higgins’ history in the court system includes an assault with a weapon charge filed against him in 2022. He pleaded not guilty to the felony and the case was dismissed in June 2023.
If convicted of the most serious charge, threats in official matters, Higgins faces up to 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine.
News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.