Knife wielding man in Zortman bar apprehended by patrons

The Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Miner’s Bar in Zortman on the Fourth of July concerning a man waving a knife at bar patrons on Independence Day.

Brian Dean Bell, 31 whose last known address is in Dodson, made his initial appearance in court last week and is charged with assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment, both felonies, after he was arrested in Zortman.

On July 4, 2014, Phillips County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a report of a man with a knife in the Miner’s Club in Zortman. A male suspect, identified as Brian Bell, was allegedly reportedly waving a knife at patrons of the bar, but was, as the two deputies in route were told, subdued and locked in handcuffs.

When they arrived at the Miner’s Club, the two deputies saw a man sitting on Bell’s legs and a female standing on his head, according to court records. The woman informed the deputies that Bell had tried to cut her and several other bar patrons with the knife. She said that while Bell was swinging the knife, a male got up and punched Bell in the back of the head, rendering him unconscious. The bartender grabbed a pair of plastic flex cuff and placed them on Bell. The bar patrons also used Duct Tape to secure Bell’s legs.

Bail for Bell is set at $10,000 and he was released to his father. As a condition of his release, Bell will not consume alcohol. No contact with witnesses listed in information, will be subject to testing of bodily fluids as requested by law enforcement, must sign waiver of extradition and will reside in state of Montana and will not leave without permission from the court.

The bartender handed one of the deputies a Crown Royal bag and inside were the knife and the scissors. The deputies then arrested the twoand placed them in the back of their patrol vehicle. The man who had been sitting on Bell’s leg when the deputies arrived stated that if the bar patrons had not detained Bell that the deputies would have had to shoot when they arrived at the bar.

Before the Phillips County deputies arrived at the Miners Club, but while Bell had a woman standing on his head and a man on his legs, Shelby Lynn Walker allegedly tried to release Bell from his restraints and him by cutting the tape and flex cuffs with scissors. Walker was also detained by the bar patrons.

Walker, 21 of Harlem, is charged with obstruction to justice, a felony. Bail for Walker was set at $1,500 but was released on her own recognizance provided she be a law abiding citizen and stay in contact with her attorney.

Bell pleaded not guilty to both charges and will next be in court on September 8, 2014 for an omnibus hearing.

Walker pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on September 8 as well.