Man who allegedly beat police officer receives suspended sentence

A 19-year-old accused of punching a deputy sheriff earlier this year received a suspended sentence after negotiating a deal with prosecutors in June.

Colton Low was initially charged with aggravated assault on a police officer after his arrest on March 2 in Flathead County District Court. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on March 19 before Judge Robert Allison, but signed a deal on June 17 that reduced the charge to a misdemeanor of resisting arrest.

The agreement stipulated that the prosecution would seek a suspended sentence for the 19-year-old, but that his lawyer would be free to request probation.

Allison imposed a one-year suspended sentence that same day, giving Low credit for four days of time already served and fining him $150.

According to court documents, Flathead County Sheriff's Office officers crossed paths with Low after neighbors of a Cobbler Way apartment heard screaming and a noise that sounded like objects being thrown against the walls on March 1.

When officers entered the Kalispell-area apartment, they found Low inside. When they told him he was not allowed to leave the apartment and had to sit down, he allegedly refused. When officers put on handcuffs, Low struck one of them, court documents say.

One blow struck a deputy's ear, leaving it red and tender, court documents say.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].