Libby man, 21, arrested for Whitefish burglaries

A Libby man is being held in the Flathead County Jail as a suspect in several Whitefish area burglaries, thefts and acts of vandalism.

Andrew Ryan Dlask, 21, of Libby was arrested after a short vehicle chase Wednesday, May 22. Dlask was in the Whitefish area of Idaho and Waverly Place at approximately 2 p.m. last Wednesday when he saw a Nissan pick-up parked outside a residence with the motor running. 

Dlask, who was riding a stolen mountain bike, parked the bike near the pick-up and drove from the scene in the pickup. The owner of the vehicle came out a short time later and discovered his vehicle was missing. An attempt to locate the vehicle was broadcast. 

Approximately an hour later, a relative of the owner of the pickup saw the vehicle travelling east on E. Edgewood toward Columbia Falls and alerted the 911 center. Members of the Columbia Falls Police Department, Whitefish Police Department and Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks converged on the area to shut off all avenues of escape. 

A Whitefish police lieutenant saw the vehicle near the Stoltz saw mill and pursued it. Dlask drove the stolen vehicle into the mill parking lot and fled on foot into a swampy area north of the mill with three Whitefish officers in foot pursuit. After a lengthy chase through thick forest, a creek and swamp, Dlask was apprehended. 

Dlask later confessed to three burglaries, numerous attempted burglaries, felony criminal mischief, thefts of six to 10 bikes and car break-ins. Dlask told investigators he and his accomplice, who he identified as a juvenile boy, would steal bicycles and cruise residential neighborhoods during the day and look for houses where it appeared there was no one home. 

One of them would approach the door and knock while the other served as a lookout. If no one answered the door, they would either force the door open or in some cases doors were found unlocked. In one instance, a man on East Second Street in Whitefish observed the two burglars attempting to enter a neighbor’s house and then attempt to enter his vehicle. He confronted them and took Dlask’s photograph with his cell phone and then reported his observation to police.  

Dlask is currently being held in the Flathead County Jail for vehicle theft. Additional charges are expected.  Whitefish Police have urged people to lock their cars and homes. 

Authorities still are looking for Dlask’s accomplice.