Mostly quiet for police

POLSON — A man allegedly brandishing a handgun at a local bar Saturday night proved the most serious incident during what Polson Police Chief Doug Chase said is one of the busiest weekends of the year for his department.

Highlighted by the Flathead Lake 3-on-3 basketball tournament, which draws thousands of visitors, and beautiful weather conditions, the weekend saw congested streets and various incidents requiring law enforcement’s assistance.

Chase said most of the issues that arose involved alcohol, including Saturday night’s altercation.

Joseph J. Merola, of California, allegedly pulled a Glock 27, a semi-automatic pistol, on a man from Clinton, after a dispute inside Polson tavern Swanee’s spilled out into the bar’s parking lot. Merola, 56, was arrested and charged with three felonies, including assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person, in addition to misdemeanor simple assault and obstructing justice, a misdemeanor. He was seen in Justice Court Monday afternoon and is held on $5,000 surety or $500 cash bond. If released on bond, Merola cannot possess firearms or leave Lake County.

PPD Asst. Chief John Stevens said the department was assigned 109 cases from Friday through Sunday. Nine citations were issued and three arrests resulted, he said.

Chase said seven officers — some on foot, an all-terrain vehicle, bicycle patrol and in squad cars — were on duty during Saturday and Saturday night to keep order with the influx of people in town.

“The open container ordinance was enforced and most incidents were alcohol related,” Chase said. “It was the after hours activities that consumed most of [the officer’s] time.”

While most people in town came for the basketball tournament, Chase said the organizers of the event had no control over what attendees did in their spare time while visiting.

“Hoopfest shouldn’t have the finger pointed at them,” he said. “People are responsible for their own behavior.”

The increased police presence in town was made possible by the organizers themselves, Chase said.

“Anderson Broadcasting is very generous in offering remuneration for our overtime hours,” he said. “It would be very costly to the taxpayers if Anderson Broadcasting wasn’t so generous.”