A man was sentenced to Montana State Prison on Oct. 6 for fleeing a probation and parole officer twice in May, and injuring an officer in the process.

Flathead District Judge Amy Eddy sentenced Kyle Kenneth Smith, 25, to six years in Montana State Prison for one felony count of criminal endangerment.

Smith pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea agreement in which a felony count of assault on a peace officer and misdemeanor counts of escape and criminal mischief were dismissed.

According to court documents, on May 5 Smith, who was on state probation, was stopped by two probation and parole officers in a business parking lot off U.S. 93 in Kalispell.

Smith allegedly fled after an officer tried to place him under arrest. One of the officers was able to catch and tackle Smith, but Smith got free and allegedly kicked the officer in the chest, injuring him. In his change of plea, Smith said that he did not kick the officer in the chest.

Smith resumed running and the injured officer was able to recapture Smith after he became stuck in a barbed-wire fence. Smith allegedly tried to punch the injured officer as he was taken into custody.

At the Flathead County Detention Center, Smith kicked open the door of the vehicle, slipped out of his handcuffs and ran away. The vehicle was damaged in the process.

Smith was found a few hours later by law enforcement near Seventh Avenue West in Kalispell.

On Thursday, Eddy also revoked a suspended sentence for issuing a bad check in 2013 and sentenced Smith to an additional three years in Montana State Prison, to run concurrent to the six-year sentence. He still has to pay $2,200 in restitution for that crime.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.