Libby man accused of felony theft of father's home found hiding in woods near Lakeside

A Libby man suspected of burglarizing his father’s Kalispell home and later fleeing from police was found hiding in the woods near Lakeside on Monday.

Kevin Ray Mitchell, 30, was reportedly hypothermic when he was apprehended by Flathead County SWAT off Cramer Creek Road, according to a press release from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. He is facing charges of burglary and felony theft.

According to the release, local law enforcement officials received a report of a burglary that had occurred in the Kalispell Area on Jan. 15.

Reportedly under the influence of methamphetamine and unstable, Mitchell had allegedly broken into his father’s home, taking with him several weapons and survival gear. Mitchell also had allegedly stolen a pickup from a friend’s residence.

A log truck driver reported finding the vehicle at about 4:30 p.m. about 6 miles up Cramer Creek Road near Lakeside. The driver also observed Mitchell run into the woods.

Deputies responded and found that a rifle was missing from the stolen vehicle. An alert was pushed out to residents in the area warning them of the individual, and requesting they lock their doors and report anything suspicious.

The Two Bear Air helicopter responded to the scene along with Flathead County SWAT.

Mitchell was reportedly located in the woods by the helicopter. Deputies were directed to his location and were able to take Mitchell into custody without incident, the release states.

He was reportedly hypothermic and was hoisted into the Two Bear helicopter and transported by ambulance to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Mitchell recently had another run in with the law. He was arrested Dec. 31, 2017 on a warrentless arrest for possession of dangerous drugs, a felony. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detective Nate Scofield found Mitchell while executing a search warrant on a 6th Street home. During his search, Scofield found a methamphetamine pipe in Mitchell’s pocket. Scofield also found a small bag of methamphetamine on the arm of a chair in the back room of the residence. Mitchell told Scofield that the methamphetamine was his and that he had been using.

Mitchell first court appearance was before Justice Court Judge Jay Sheffield on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. His bond was set at $10,000 and his conditions of release were set.

Mitchell bonded out on from the Lincoln County Detention Facility on Jan. 12, 2018.