Police Dept. Press Release - Immigration ArrestOn December 8,202S, Kalispell Police Department (KPD) officers responded to a motor vehicle
crash near East Oregon Street and 7th Avenue West North in Kalispell. The reporting party
stated they were involved in a collision and that the other driver requested they "not contact
law coforcccucot." Upon arrival, officers began the standard process ofinvestigating the crash,
which included the identification of all involved parties, as required by state law, and especially
important should |IPDneed toissue traffic citations, aswas the case.
One driver did not speak English, and aSpanish-speaking 0PDofficer responded toassist with
translation. One of the drivers involved was unable to provide identification and stated they
had no means of confirming their identity. The vehicle being driven was registered to an
unknown male, with expired registration from another state. After KPD attempted to identify
the individual through available local records without success, KPD contacted federal
authorities to assist with identification, which is standard procedure.
Federal authorities requested KPD detain the driver for a potential federal violation. KPD
detained the individual until federal agents with U.S.Border Patrol arrived. That agency took
the individual into custody.
Kalispell Police Department has a responsibility to properly identify individuals involved in
investigations, particularly when criminal or civil liability may be involved. KPD'sactions io
this matter were consistent with department policy, Montana law, and standard law
enforcement practices, including cooperation with federal partner agencies upon request.
Jordan Vcoczi4Chief ofPolice