Sheriff's Office Blotter
The law roundup is compiled from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office incident log. It is not meant to serve as an exhaustive account.
Feb. 24
7:13 a.m.
Harassment, threat, intimidation
A local man asked for additional patrols near his Granite Creek home. He was worried that a recently arrested woman would try to “mess” with his property. He called law enforcement again later in the day, telling authorities the woman was threatening and harassing him.
7:21 a.m.
Disturbance
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies headed to a local gas station for a report of a woman causing a disturbance.
8:48 a.m.
Child abuse
A woman told authorities she had received second-hand accounts of the abuse of her children. She declined to give investigators the name of the person who told her.
9:21 a.m.
Suspicious person
Authorities received a report of an individual taking photos of homes near Lake Creek Road and trying to hitch hike in the area.
10:22 a.m.
Animal complaint
Authorities headed to Haul Road Bridge after a train struck a dog. The animal was alive, but immobilized.
11:03 a.m.
Assault
An individual asked to speak with a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputy after their girlfriend allegedly assaulted them the previous weekend.
1:12 p.m.
Civil complaint
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies headed to Mahoney Road at the request of a resident who asked for a civil standby. The individual was in the midst of a dispute over the ownership of a vehicle and worried that it might become a disturbance. Responding deputies separated the parties, but were unable to confirm ownership of the vehicle. They ordered that it remain where it was.
2:10 p.m.
Criminal trespass
A Libby Creek Cutoff Road resident told authorities that someone entered her home while she was out.
2:59 p.m.
Public assistance
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a report of elder abuse near Snowshoe Lane.
4:46 p.m.
Animal complaint
Libby police officers headed to Commerce Way for a report of a dog left in a parked vehicle for more than an hour. The vehicle was gone by the time authorities arrived.
5:14 p.m.
Public safety
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Faith Vandelden on diving under the influence charges after finding her allegedly unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle near Happy’s Inn.
8:25 p.m.
Burglary
A Gordon Beach Road resident reported returning home after about a month to find the house burglarized. Firearms, jewelry and liquor were missing.
Feb. 25
1:17 a.m.
Suspicious activity
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies found an open door at a U.S. Highway 2 business.
6:36 a.m.
Civil complaint
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a 911 call requesting a civil standby at a U.S. Highway 2 home. A woman was attempting to gather her belongings from a man’s house, but the man was tossing things outside. Dispatchers in Troy told authorities that the couple was separated after a fight the night before. Authorities asked the woman to leave the scene until deputies could make contact with the man.
11:16 a.m.
Public assist
A Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputy gave a an a ride to the auto shop after getting flagged down near the U.S. Postal Office in Libby.
11:58 a.m.
Traffic accident
First responders headed to mile marker 55 of U.S. Highway 2 after receiving a third-hand account of a traffic accident.
2:43 p.m.
Traffic stop
Libby police officers cited a motorist for passing a school bus while children were unloading.
7:53 p.m.
Traffic accident
A motorist reported a hit-and-run accident on state Highway 56 near Winslows Corner.
9:58 p.m.
Public assistance
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies launched a search for two skiers overdue from their trip to a local ski hill.
Feb. 26
10:50 a.m.
Criminal trespass
An property owner living out of state reported that a squatter was living on his Billadeau Road land. He told authorities he planned to tell the unwelcome guest to move along, as the individual is a relation. But he wanted to speak with a deputy regarding squatters’ rights in Montana in case the individual refused to leave.
3:03 p.m.
Public assistance
Staff at a local elementary school told Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies that a parent or guardian had failed to pick up several children. Authorities spoke with the mother, who sounded intoxicated. Child protective services were alerted. The mother eventually pulled into the parking lot of the school. CPS personnel gave both her and the children a ride home.
4:08 p.m.
Harassment, threat, intimidation
An individual reported receiving threats from family members.
4:42 p.m.
Theft
A Libby resident told police that an ex-partner entered her apartment and stole the keys to her vehicle.
4:46 p.m.
Child abuse
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a child abuse case.
5:06 p.m.
Criminal mischief
A Yaak River Road resident suspected someone tampered with their groceries, including dog food.
5:10 p.m.
Fish and game
Road crews moved a dead eagle off the roadway near mile marker 63 of U.S. Highway 2.
5:42 p.m.
Public safety
Local and state law enforcement responded to mile marker 4 of state Highway 37 for a report of an individual cutting firewood on a nearby hillside. The wood allegedly was rolling into the road.
8:54 p.m.
Firearms
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies headed to West 2nd Street Extension for a report of gunshots coming from a nearby, occupied cabin. Responding deputies determined the cabin was empty. They deemed the call unfounded.
9:57 p.m.
Suspicious vehicle
Libby police officers responded to a local school for a report of a suspicious vehicle and determined the individual in question was playing basketball at the facility.
10:24 p.m.
Assault
Lincoln County Detention Center personnel reported a fight.
10:42 p.m.
Criminal mischief
A 911 caller told authorities that a woman kicked in a door on Farm to Market Road. The caller asked to file a retraining order.