Northwest Montana man accused of writing bad check

A Northwest Montana man is accused of writing a bad check to a Libby business after allegedly failing to pay for work on his broken-down car.

Dana Allen Baese, 30, of Kalispell, was charged with one felony for writing a bad check, and two misdemeanors for theft.

Monday, July 22, he was arraigned on those charges pleaded not guilty. Baese is lodged in the Lincoln County Jail with a $10,000 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 26.

According to charging documents, Baese was travelling through Libby Jan. 25, 2019, when the car he was driving, a blue 2004 Ford Escape, broke down and needed repaired. He took it to Timberline Auto Center and agreed to have it repaired after receiving a quote.

The person who reported the incident said after the car was fixed, Baese was contacted, arrived at the dealer and also talked about buying a Ford F-150 truck that was on the lot.

When the employee determined the check Baese had allegedly written was on an closed account and he tried to explain it to him, Baese drove away. The employee also said Baese had taken a key for the truck that he was interested in buying.

Libby Police Officer Ron Buckner told the employee to put the truck inside and then gave dispatch a description of the car Baese was driving. When a dispatcher checked, it was learned that Baese had a felont warrant for his arrest.

Later that night, Baese was located at a local business and allegedly attempted to run, but was tased and arrested. A Kalispell Police Officer told Buckner that Baese allegedly had the dealership key for the Ford truck.

Also, according to the court document, after the Escape was impounded, a drug dog alerted on the vehicle.

Baese was given the chance to pay for the repairs to the car, but he allegedly failed to do it. Buckner also learned that Baese had returned to the dealership in Libby and asked for a refund.