Stolen vehicle at Kootenai Falls leads to felony arrest

A Flathead Valley man is charged with two felonies after he allegedly left a stolen vehicle in the Kootenai Falls Overlook parking area.

Corey Lee Knudsen, 32, pleaded not guilty to three charges on March 6 while appearing on video from the Lincoln County Detention Center. The charges against him include felony theft, criminal possession of methamphetamine and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

Knudsen has since gained his release from jail and awaits an omnibus hearing on June 19.

According to the charging document, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Connor Wager pulled into the parking area on Feb. 19 and saw a Ford Taurus sedan parked on the west end of the lot. Wager checked the plate number and learned the Taurus was reported stolen out of Flathead County.

While Wager waited for backup, the alert on the stolen car indicated there were weapons inside it when it was stolen and that the car may be used to transport illegal contraband from Spokane, Washington.

The alert also listed Knudsen and an unidentified woman as suspects. Wager also learned Knudsen had multiple outstanding arrest warrants from Flathead County. The trooper then saw a black Chevy sedan approach the stolen vehicle and park nearby.

Wager reported seeing two men get out of the sedan, one of which was Knudsen. Wager detained the defendant and told him the Taurus was stolen. Knudsen didn’t think the car was stolen and seemed confused, according to Wager.

After beginning a search of Knudsen for weapons, the defendant allegedly told Wager he had a small Ziplock bag of an illegal substance in one of his pockets.

Wager placed Knudsen in the front seat of his patrol vehicle and the defendant said he hadn’t stolen the vehicle. Wager reported that MHP dispatch confirmed the Taurus was stolen. He then found an Altoids container in the left pocket of Knudsen’s fleece jacket. The container allegedly held a plastic bag with a white, crystal-like substance.

Wager believed the substance was methamphetamine. The county K-9 officer, “Bear” gave a positive indication on the car and the trooper seized the vehicle and turned it over to Sgt. Brian Inman’s custody. Wager then took Knudsen to the county jail where detention officers reported finding a similar Ziplock bag with a white, substance-like residue inside Knudsen’s wallet. A tube with white residue in it was also allegedly found in Knudsen’s pocket.

After getting a search warrant for the Taurus, Wager reported finding a pen tube inside the driver’s seat. It also contained white residue, which the trooper believed was meth.

A conviction for felony theft may result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in the Montana State Prison. A conviction for drug possession may result in a 5-year prison sentence.