Man charged with assault, threatening police officers

A Libby man’s bail has been set at $50,000 after he reportedly threatened his wife and the lives of law enforcement officers and stated that taking him into custody would be “a fight to the death.”

Scott Norman Chamberlain, 41, is charged in Lincoln County Justice Court with partner or family-member assault, his third offense, resisting arrest and assault. If convicted, he faces a possible six years imprisonment and a maximum $51,000 in fines.

According to court documents, Chamberlain has two prior partner or family-member assault charges of which he was convicted in 1998 and 2000, both in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

On Dec. 21, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy John R. Davis was dispatched to a family disturbance on Tamarack Lane. Davis arrived with two other law enforcement officers, where they found Chamberlain’s wife and three children sitting in their car in the driveway.

Chamberlain’s wife told Davis that her husband reportedly had pushed her multiple times during an altercation and threatened to shoot her, according to court documents. After Chamberlain’s wife hid his pistol in a kitchen cabinet and told him she was going to call police, she said Chamberlain told her she should also call an ambulance, because she would be dead before the cops arrived, Davis reported.

She told Davis that Chamberlain was still inside, in a wheelchair because his leg had been amputated above the knee. Davis then spoke with Chamberlain through the back door, and Chamberlain reportedly was argumentative and threatening toward Davis. According to Davis’ report, Chamberlain told him multiple times that he was going to kill him.

Chamberlain then reportedly turned and started moving away from Davis, who pursued Chamberlain through the kitchen, according to court documents. Davis and the other officers were trying to detain Chamberlain when he allegedly kicked one of the officers in the upper thigh area, among other reported attempts to fight his arrest.

After he was placed in handcuffs, Chamberlain was transported to a hospital after he told officers they had broken his back and neck and dislocated his hip. Medical staff at the hospital, according to Davis’ report, later cleared him.

Davis reported speaking with Chamberlain’s daughter, who told him that she also heard Chamberlain threaten to shoot her mother.

Chamberlain’s preliminary hearing has been set for 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 4.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.