Caye returns to custody after allegedly brandishing gun

A Polson man, who was sentenced in District Court May 25 to 10 years with the Montana State Prison on an assault with a weapon charge, with all but 13 days suspended for time served, faces new charges of a similar nature.

Nathan Videl Caye, 21, entered a plea of not guilty in the same Polson courtroom Sept. 20, this time to felony charges of criminal endangerment, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted person and assault with a weapon.

According to court records, on Aug. 26, Caye was driving a white Chevy Silverado pickup truck on Polson’s Main Street when a Polson Police officer observed the truck pull out from an “unorthodox” parking position and into the opposite lane of traffic, before swerving onto a side street at a high rate of speed.

The officer activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the truck. The truck ran through several stop signs before it sideswiped two other vehicles and became disabled. The driver, later identified as Caye, exited the driver’s side and fled on foot.

A noticeably agitated passenger in the truck, later identified as a juvenile with the initials I. P., exited the passenger side of the truck. I.P. remained near the truck and spoke with the Polson Police officer. I.P. explained to the officer that Caye had left a .38 revolver in the truck, which the officer confiscated along with a 9 mm firearm.

I.P. indicated that prior to the pursuit, Caye had been consuming alcohol. I.P. also indicated that he and Caye had aimed their firearms at people at some apartments at 509 Main Street and the officer placed I.P. under arrest for assault with a weapon.

After being read his Miranda Rights, I.P. told the officer that Caye and I.P. had been at the Flathead River Rodeo where they confronted the new boyfriend of I.P.’s ex-girlfriend. This led to a physical altercation and Caye and I.P. later went to the Main Street apartments in hopes of reengaging the new boyfriend, feeling the fight earlier wasn’t fair.

Instead, they located three minor girls and brandished their firearms at them. Caye fired one warning shot into the air. I.P. indicated that they eventually left. The minor girls and one other witness indicated to another Polson Police officer that I.P. was the one who fired the warning shot into the air.

One of the minor-aged witnesses indicated that Caye attempted to convince I.P. to shoot the ex-girfiend’s new boyfriend and his friends.

Caye was convicted of assault with a weapon for an incident that occurred in front of the Polson VFW on Main Street Nov. 26, 2022. Video shows Caye pointing a handgun at several people involved in a physical altercation.

Prosecutor Brendan McQuillan, with the Lake County Attorney’s Office, showed a portion of that video to the court during the arraignment hearing on the new charges in arguing against an own-recognizance release. Judge Molly Owen agreed and maintained bond totaling $125,000 between the new charges and violating conditions of the suspended portion of the previous conviction.

Judge Owen set the case for trial March 4.