A Kalispell man has denied punching a man in a Kalispell store and drunkenly fleeing the scene with a toddler in the vehicle.

Kevin Wayne Renshaw, 31, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault and felony criminal child endangerment on Thursday in Flathead District Court.

According to court documents, on Sept. 16 Kalispell Police responded to a Dollar Tree store where a man he had allegedly been punched by Renshaw. The man reported that he had confronted Renshaw about parking inappropriately and that Renshaw then hit him so hard in the ear that he fell to the ground. Renshaw allegedly fled the scene.

An officer later stopped Renshaw’s vehicle. Renshaw allegedly told the officer that he was “DUI” and that he had been drinking.

Renshaw allegedly was slurring his speech and smelled of alcohol. One of the three passengers in Renshaw’s car was a 2-year-old child.

At the police station Renshaw allegedly admitted to the assault, and a breath test indicated his blood alcohol concentration was .164, double the legal limit.

A jury trial is set for Jan. 17.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].