By JESSE DAVISThe Daily Inter Lake

A 21-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded not guilty to attempted robbery in a case where law officers originally thought they had foiled a casino robbery before it happened.

Cameron Carr entered his plea Thursday in Flathead District Court.

According to court documents, Cameron Carr was spotted by a Kalispell police officer exiting the Shamrock Casino in Evergreen with a black-and-white handkerchief covering his nose and mouth.

The officer was assisted by a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputy, who were responding to a tip from one of Carr’s family members that he was planning to rob a casino.

Carr allegedly identified himself as “Jacob” to the officer, but the officer recognized him. When the deputy ordered him to get on his knees, he ran towards U.S. 2. Officers chased him across the highway and were able to subdue him.

A can of pepper spray was found in a holster attached to Carr’s belt and a black handgun was wedged between the center console and a seat in the vehicle Carr was alleged to be driving.

Those details, however, are now in question, according to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry.

“It looks like, from our investigation, his intent was not to rob the casino,” Curry said. “It’s my guess that this will probably be dismissed.”

Deputy County Attorney Kenneth Park said he is unsure what will happen with the case due to the fact that the arraignment has just occurred and he hasn’t been able to go through the case file in detail yet.

The charge of attempted robbery carries a penalty of between two and 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Even if the charge is dropped, however, it would not mark the end to Carr’s legal troubles: He faces five felonies and four misdemeanors in two unrelated cases.

Carr already has pleaded not guilty related to an Oct. 15, 2011, incident in which he was reported to be passed out in his home and was alleged to be in possession of heroin and methamphetamine, as well as needles and other paraphernalia.

In that case, he faces a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted of both charges, he faces up to five and a half years in prison and a fine of up to $50,500.

In court Thursday, he did not contest a revocation of his release on that case.

His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12, when he will be arraigned on two felony charges of assault on a peace officer, felony criminal endangerment, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and felony criminal possession of drug paraphernalia as well as misdemeanor charges of fleeing from or eluding a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Those charges stem from a July 1, 2011 incident in which Carr allegedly refused to turn off the engine to his vehicle and identify himself to Kalispell police officers in Woodland Park. Although a female passenger obeyed and was standing with the officers, he instead put the car in reverse and fled, nearly striking the police officers.

Carr allegedly drove down a pedestrian and bicycle path along the north side of the Woodland Water Park and Woodland Skate Park at between 30 and 40 miles per hour, nearly striking several people.

The vehicle eventually was found parked and unoccupied on the side of a road. A search warrant was obtained and officers located a used hypodermic syringe, a metal spoon and a blue case containing paraphernalia, prescription pills, small plastic baggies, unused syringes, a glass pipe containing residue, a spoon head containing residue, a digital scale, butane lighters, alcohol swabs and a marijuana pipe.

The passenger identified the driver as Carr.

If convicted of all charges in that case, he will face between six and 37 years in prison and a fine of up to $203,000.