SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint man who was killed at the Meandering Moose on Monday was allegedly involved in a violent altercation last month.

The July 14 incident at the apartment building led to Blas Salvadore Alonzo Dias to be charged with misdemeanor battery and malicious injury to property, court records show.

A 16-year-old girl told Sandpoint Police that Dias punched her in the face and choked her inside his room, allegations which were corroborated by another juvenile who was present, according to a probable cause affidavit.

When the teens attempted to leave in a vehicle, Dias allegedly reached into the vehicle and took the keys from the ignition. When the driver got out to demand them back, Dias got inside the vehicle and attempted to force the 16-year-old out of the vehicle, the affidavit said. Dias exited the vehicle and threw the driver’s mobile phone against the ground, smashing its screen, the affidavit said.

Dias, 34, was taken into custody and made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on July 16, court records indicate. Sandpoint Prosecutor Katie Edburg recommended bail be set at $2,500 because Dias has a prior criminal history. Judge Lori Meulenberg set bail at $600 and appointed a public defender to represent the unemployed roofer, court documents show. A no-contact order with the 16-year-old was also entered.

Searches of the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository turn up no prior cases against Dias. A search of Idaho’s iCourt database turns up only the case for which he was being prosecuted at the time of his killing. Dias held a Utah driver’s license, although that state’s online court records are hidden behind a pay wall.

A conflict public defender was later brought into the case because his original counsel was already representing the teen in a marijuana possession case, according to court documents. The case was set to go to trial next month.

“Not sure if it’s directly linked, but we are chasing all leads,” Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon said on Friday.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.