Kalispell man transferred from Washington prison faces felonies

A Kalispell man with a lengthy criminal history was transferred to Flathead County from a Washington prison over the weekend to face local charges.

Joseph Michael Crowell, 39, was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center on three felony counts of aggravated assault, theft and the revocation of a previously suspended sentence in Flathead District Court.

The charges stem from an incident in June of 2015 where Crowell allegedly inflicted a head injury to a woman, causing her temporary amnesia, and stole her Subaru. On the day of the assault, Crowell also allegedly hit his girlfriend — the woman’s daughter — over the head with a beer bottle and forced her into the stolen Subaru.

According to previous reports, Crowell’s kidnapped girlfriend was able to escape while they were driving through Cowlitz County in Washington. After the woman called 911, Crowell reportedly tried to drive away in the stolen Subaru and rammed into two police cruisers in a pursuit before surrendering.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry told the Inter Lake that Crowell had been transported from a Washington prison to Flathead County to face his pending charges. Crowell is also facing criminal charges in Lincoln County, Curry said.

At the time of the alleged assault and kidnapping, Crowell was on probation for a felony criminal endangerment and criminal mischief conviction from 2008.

Crowell is currently being held on a bond of more than $150,000. He will be arraigned for the local charges in front of Judge Robert B. Allison in Flathead District Court on March 29.

Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.