A 19-year-old Kalispell man faces four felony charges after allegedly firing at a Flathead County deputy sheriff on Aug. 19.
Bryson Connolly appeared in Flathead County Justice Court Monday to hear the charges filed against him, which include attempted deliberate homicide, assault on a peace officer and two counts of felony assault with a weapon.
If convicted, he faces up to 150 years in prison and $150,000 in fines. Connolly’s bail was set at $750,000 during his initial appearance.
According to court records, the sheriff’s office received a call on Aug. 19 during which a man told dispatch that Connolly had threatened him with an AK-47 rifle.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found the man at his neighbor’s house where he ran after allegedly hearing Connolly load a rifle. Later in the evening, deputies received information that Connolly was southbound on Patrick Creek Road, south of Kalispell.
Once a deputy located his car, Connolly turned on to Kacu Lane and refused to stop when the deputy turned on his lights and siren. Connolly eventually pulled over after driving into a field, but would not comply with the deputy’s orders to show his hands.
Connolly then sped away again across the field with the deputy in pursuit. The next time he stopped he allegedly got out of the car and shoot at the deputy with the high-powered rifle.
The deputy could “hear the gunfire and sounds of the bullets hitting his patrol car and windshield,” court records state. In fear for his life, the deputy reversed his car out of the line of fire.
The ensuing investigation reported that Connolly allegedly knelt down when he got out of his car and shot at least 15 times at the deputy, hitting the patrol car’s hood and windshield, according to court records.
After the shooting, Connolly fled on foot and a manhunt, that included deputies, the SWAT team, Kalispell Police and the Montana Highway Patrol, ensued.
Officers apprehended Connolly without incident at about 11:30 p.m. that night when he approached a residence in the area. The weapon used in the shooting was also recovered in the area.
The female riding with Connolly during the Aug. 19 incident was located Aug. 20. Her name is being withheld pending further investigation and possible charges.
Connolly’s arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 8.