Mission man accused of theft, defacing gun ID and drug possession

A St. Ignatius man is accused of defacing a weapon’s serial number, possessing drugs and theft.

Mark Anthony Davidson, 38, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Dec. 11 to misdemeanor charges of theft and obscuring the identity of a machine, and a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

According to court records, on Nov. 30, law enforcement observed a black Chevy Blazer, whose registered owner was wanted on an active warrant. She was a passenger in the Blazer, and Davidson, who was identified as the driver, was also wanted on a warrant.

As the officers approached the Blazer, they could see a green glass pipe, commonly used to inhale drugs, on the ground near the driver’s side door with a torch lighter on the driver’s seat. Davidson allegedly admitted to having just smoked methamphetamine.

A search warrant executed on the Blazer turned up one baggie containing approximately 11 grams of suspected methamphetamine and another baggie with about seven grams.

They also located a baggie with one gram of a brown substance, drug paraphernalia and eight firearms including a Taurus pistol with the serial number “stamped over.” Another pistol, a Ruger .22, was identified as having been stolen from the Depot Junction second hand store in Polson in December 2023.

Judge Molly Owen set a trial date of June 2. Davidson was released from custody pending further court proceedings.