Burglary suspect faces four felonies
Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 years, 8 months AGO
A Columbia Falls man accused of burglary and massive vandalism at a Kalispell medical clinic and trying to break into a bail bonds business is facing several charges.
Zachary Klundt, 24, was charged Thursday in Flathead District Court with felony counts of burglary, criminal mischief, theft and attempted burglary for allegedly causing tens of thousands of dollars in of damage at All Families Healthcare before trying to break into Bob’s Bail Bonds.
A court document alleges Klundt shattered the window of the clinic’s back door before damaging art, furniture, medical instruments, medical supplies and file cabinets, then breaking into the basement and damaging the main sewer line, furnace and water heater.
Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said Klundt allegedly broke a hole in the sewer line, covered everything in the main portion of the First Avenue East business with iodine and sprayed a fire extinguisher over everything.
Corrigan added that Klundt allegedly smashed every picture in the entire building, including one stating, “Do unto others what you would have others do unto you.”
“We may hold him to that,” he said.
The document states that a footprint was found in the iodine powder, there was blood inside the office and approximately $950 was missing.
The damage was discovered at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
On Tuesday night, Klundt was arrested after the owner of Bob’s Bail Bonds said a man was trying to force his way into the business. Klundt allegedly had a concealed, fully loaded handgun and a spare magazine, also full, in the holster.
Klundt allegedly told police he went to the bail bonds office to speak with the owner, who identified him as the person who tried to break in.
Following Klundt’s arrest, officers allegedly saw cuts on his hands and found glass shards in his pocket, about $915 in cash in another pocket, and matched his shoe tread pattern to the footprints found at the clinic.
A later search of Klundt’s house by Kalispell Police Department officers and FBI agents allegedly turned up several boxes of medical supplies and documents that belonged to the clinic.
If convicted of all four charges, Klundt could be sentenced to up to 60 years in the Montana State Prison and ordered to pay a fine of up to $200,000 as well as restitution.
He is currently incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his bond is set at $100,000. An arraignment hearing has been set for March 27.
Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.