A Kalispell man charged with endangering the life of his infant son has a long and troubled criminal past in the Flathead Valley.

Angel W. Perez, 26, of Kalispell, is facing criminal endangerment charges following an incident on the evening of Feb. 19 in Evergreen that involved his infant son.

In court documents, Perez is alleged to have held his 1-month-old son in front of him when he thought officers may shoot at him. He also allegedly said he used methamphetamine and PCP earlier in the day.

According to information from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to 1695 Montana 35 about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 for a welfare check on a man and his month-old son.

The caller indicated receiving a troubling phone call from Perez and believed Perez was acting extremely paranoid and delusional, court documents stated. The caller said she was concerned for the safety of the child.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they learned Perez had fled with the child.

Soon after, more calls came in that reported Perez was running on U.S. 2 near a bank. When officers from Montana Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office arrived, they saw him holding the infant and reported he appeared highly agitated, paranoid and based upon officers’ experience, impaired by drugs.

Officers reported in the court document Perez was sweating profusely despite the freezing temperature and he wasn’t making sense. The also alleged Perez held the infant in an unsafe manner several times, including in such a way that appeared to restrict the child’s breathing.

Perez allegedly refused to listen to officers’ commands as he continued to hold the baby and cross back over U.S. 2 toward a convenience store.

Court documents indicate Perez repeatedly yelled “don’t shoot” and held the infant over his face as if it was a shield.

Then the child’s mother arrived at the scene and she begged Perez to give the child to her, but he allegedly refused.

Then, officers said Perez began an ominous countdown, stating “three... two...” Deputies decided to restrain Perez and they were able to quickly get the infant from him.

Both the child and Perez were evaluated by medical personnel. Court documents indicate that’s when Perez said he used meth and PCP.

Perez is lodged in the Flathead County Jail on $100,000 bail. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Perez’s criminal past dates back to January 2015 when he allegedly stabbed a man with a knife behind Crush Bar in Whitefish.

Perez made bail for that offense and in June 2015, he was accused of threatening a woman with a razor blade.

According to a previous Daily Inter Lake story, Perez later admitted in court to attempting to commit suicide by cutting himself on West Fourth Street in Whitefish. A passerby tried to help Perez and he held a razor blade to her and threatened to kill her.

Under the plea agreement, the charge in the January 2015 case was dropped. Perez received a 10-year sentence, five suspended, to the Department of Corrections.

At a sentencing hearing in 2015, Perez said “I apologize for who I am. I’ve come to the realization that I’m an alcoholic and I need help ... I don’t ever want to come back here again.”

Flathead District Court Judge Amy Eddy commended Perez for apologizing in court, saying “it takes a level of courage to do that,” Eddy said.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.