Man facing vehicular theft, DUI charges

A Libby man pleaded not guilty to theft and aggravated DUI on Monday.

Robert Michael Nordquist faces up to 11 years in prison and a fine of up to $51,000 if convicted of the charges.

Nordquist, 37, was arrested in the early morning hours of Sept. 17 outside a Eureka residence where he had driven someone else’s pickup and parked, according to a police report.

When a police officer came upon the vehicle, the headlights were on and Nordquist was lying down inside. The officer, Grigori Neils, said he pulled Nordquist out of the vehicle. While he was pulling him out, Neils said Nordquist “seemed very confused.”

Neils stated in the report that Nordquist had parked his own Dodge pickup behind the VFW earlier that night, but the truck he was driving had been parked behind the “ESP.”

After he was arrested, Nordquist stole a handcuff key that was left on a table and put it in his sock, Neils said.

Nordquist had a .188 blood alcohol content as reflected by a breathalyzer test, Neils stated in the report.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Caleb M. Soptelean can be reached at 293-4124 or by email at csoptelean@thewesternnews.com.