Suspect in custody

POLSON - A Kalispell man is in custody as a suspect in two thefts at the Polson Wal-Mart. Timothy Polly, 38, was arrested for theft after witnesses gave a description and license plate number of a vehicle fleeing the scene after the latest incident on Aug. 31. The vehicle allegedly was stolen.

"We believe they are related," Polson Police Sgt. Det. Alan Booth said. "That's what we're trying to do, tie them together."

The first incident occurred around Aug. 21, PPD Chief Doug Chase said, with the alleged suspect making off with more than $3,000 worth of merchandise. The "significant" theft included four laptops, eight portable DVD players and two DVD players with monitors.

On Aug. 31, Booth said, Polson Police received a call of another theft at Wal-Mart. A Wal-Mart employee witnessed the suspect cut a locked gate and attempt to leave the store through the garden center. Polly allegedly had a shopping cart filled with computer electronics, Booth said, but left the stolen goods and fled the scene. The description of the suspect and vehicle was given to law enforcement, who eventually located the suspect in Kalispell. Polly was arraigned in Kalispell before being extradited to Lake County. Polly is held on $50,000 bond.

-Reporter Sasha Goldstein