Spitting mad in Polson
by Paul Peters
It’s impossible to know exactly what happened on Rocky Point Road near Polson on June 16, but the undisputed facts are these: Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Marlene Mims and Lake County Attorney Mitchell Young were both traveling in the same lane, Mims in her Prius, Young on his bicycle. There was an altercation between the two, and Mims called the Polson police.
According to a police report, when an officer pulled Young over, “[He] was very agitated and began screaming profanity towards the reporting party…I asked Mitch if he spit on the inside of her car and he stated ‘Yes I did, the fucking bitch almost ran me off the road.’”
According to Young’s statement, he was cycling down the road when Mims pulled alongside, “and began yelling at me that there was a bike path and I was supposed to be riding on the path.”
He says he argued with her, and she edged her car closer to him.
When they reached the stop sign at Hwy. 93, Young states, Mims nearly hit the front tire of his bicycle. He then spit in her passenger window and pulled a sweatshirt out of the car, to try “to exert some control over the situation.”
After that, he says, he tried to get Mims’ license plate number, and hit her car with his hand when she backed up toward him.
When police checked Mims’ car, a taillight was broken, and pieces were found at the scene of the incident.
Mims claims she never threatened Young with her car, and only politely asked him to use the bike lane.
She says she wanted to charge Young with simple assault, but that the Polson City Attorney is “trying to bury this” because Young is the county attorney.
Police referred the matter to the Montana Attorney General’s Office, which responded, “We do not believe a conviction could be obtained for any criminal offense charged against Mr. Young.”
In August, City Attorney James Raymond informed Mims of his decision not to prosecute the case.
According to a police report, when an officer pulled Young over, “[He] was very agitated and began screaming profanity towards the reporting party…I asked Mitch if he spit on the inside of her car and he stated ‘Yes I did, the fucking bitch almost ran me off the road.’”
According to Young’s statement, he was cycling down the road when Mims pulled alongside, “and began yelling at me that there was a bike path and I was supposed to be riding on the path.”
He says he argued with her, and she edged her car closer to him.
When they reached the stop sign at Hwy. 93, Young states, Mims nearly hit the front tire of his bicycle. He then spit in her passenger window and pulled a sweatshirt out of the car, to try “to exert some control over the situation.”
After that, he says, he tried to get Mims’ license plate number, and hit her car with his hand when she backed up toward him.
When police checked Mims’ car, a taillight was broken, and pieces were found at the scene of the incident.
Mims claims she never threatened Young with her car, and only politely asked him to use the bike lane.
She says she wanted to charge Young with simple assault, but that the Polson City Attorney is “trying to bury this” because Young is the county attorney.
Police referred the matter to the Montana Attorney General’s Office, which responded, “We do not believe a conviction could be obtained for any criminal offense charged against Mr. Young.”
In August, City Attorney James Raymond informed Mims of his decision not to prosecute the case.
Comments (1)
Showing 1-1 of 1
Twitter
Facebook
RSS