POLSON — Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrested former city building inspector Ronald Phillip Melvin at his home in Polson Tuesday, May 15 on felony charges of threats and improper influence in official or political matters.

Melvin made his initial appearance in Lake County Justice Court on Wednesday, May 16. Bail, which was originally set at $50,000, was reduced to $5,000 and, if posted, Melvin is required to wear a GPS and SCRAM alcohol monitoring bracelet. He is also forbidden to go within 500 feet of Polson City Hall or the residences of the alleged victims.

The city of Polson terminated Melvin’s employment on Monday, May 14. At about 11:30 a.m. the following day, Melvin left a threatening message on a city phone, threatening to kill city manager Todd Crossett unless he resigned by the end of the week. According to the affidavit, he also threatened to kill city attorney James Raymond and another city employee.

“I thought they were in a definite threatening manner toward specific individuals,” Polson Police Chief Wade Nash said of the threats. “I met with the city manager and expressed my concern for his safety and the safety of other employees. Then, I spoke with the sheriff’s office to alleviate the conflict of interest and filed for a search warrant.”

The warrant was issued by Justice of the Peace Chuck wall at 5 p.m., Tuesday.

“It’s sensitive for everyone but it doesn’t matter who you are, if you make threats, intoxicated or not, they need to be taken seriously,” Nash said.

Earlier this month, Melvin entered a guilty plea to amended charges of a second offense DUI in Jefferson County Justice Court on May 1 after pleading not guilty to a third offense DUI on April 5.

On April 4, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Montana Highway Patrol trooper Ken Klapan responded to a report of a white 2007 Chevy Silverado Polson city truck with two flat tires on the side of the road, facing the wrong direction on Interstate 90 at milepost 236. According to the citation, Melvin registered a blood-alcohol level of .265, over three times the legal limit.

As part of a plea agreement, Melvin was sentenced to 365 days in jail, with 358 of those suspended, and is required to serve the remaining seven days of jail time by June 1. Melvin was also fined $785, had his driver’s license suspended by the Driver Improvement Bureau, is required to enter and complete the ACT chemical abuse program by Aug. 29 and had an ignition interlock device ordered.

On Monday, Crossett and Raymond both declined to comment on why Melvin was in Jefferson County with a city vehicle, whether or not he was on the clock at the time of the incident or whether Melvin is still employed with the city.