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Two Evergreen Men Arrested in Alleged Kidnapping Attempt

By Beacon Staff

Two Evergreen men were arrested after an apparent hostage situation about which the Kalispell Police Department is currently releasing few details.

Joseph Leigh and Jared Lawshe, both 20, have been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, following the April 13 incident. Early on that morning, according to a press release from the Kalispell Police Department, an officer received information of a hostage situation in progress.

The complainant had received a call from a relative, who said he was being held and his captor had a gun. The victim asked his relative for a “nominal” sum of money to assure his safety.

The police were able to obtain information about the suspect’s vehicle and the victim’s location. Members of the Kalispell Police Department’s Uniform Patrol Division, Detective Division and administrative personnel searched the lower west side of Kalispell and eventually located the suspect’s vehicle, which was occupied.

Officers established a perimeter around the vehicle, then converged tactically. All occupants were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Kalispell Police Department for questioning. The victim had been physically assaulted, but sustained no life-threatening injuries, nor did he require medical attention.

According to the release, the investigation is ongoing and though more information may be provided in the future, officers are not commenting further at this time.