Baszler pleads not guilty to gun threats

A Polson man is accused of threatening a couple with a handgun while intoxicated. Eric Walter Baszler, 41, pleaded not guilty in Polson District Court Oct. 16 to felonious assault with a weapon and misdemeanor drunken driving.

According to court records, on September 16, a man and woman contacted law enforcement to report that a man in a white pickup truck had pulled up alongside them and brandished a gun at them. The incident occurred at the intersection of Memory Lane and US Highway 93.

The man, later identified as Baszler, reportedly said, “I know who you are, relax.” » The couple remained on the phone with emergency dispatchers as they headed toward the Wal-Mart parking lot, with the man pursuing the couple in his vehicle.

Polson Police responded and located the suspect’s white pickup truck and conducted a traffic stop on it. The driver, identified as Baszler, said the couple had stolen money from a friend. He admitted to having a pistol, but said he never took it out of his holster.

Police searched the van and found two firearms. Baszler allegedly smelled of alcohol and was taken to the Lake County Jail and processed on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He was unable to provide a sufficient sample for the Intoxilizer 9000, which records a person’s blood alcohol level.

Judge Molly Owen set the case for trial on March 31. Baszler is at large.