A homeless man accused of pulling a knife on restaurant workers after they booted him from their Kalispell establishment in March has pleaded not guilty to an assault with a weapon charge.  

Markus James Meyers, 18, of no fixed address, was arraigned on the felony before Judge Amy Eddy in Flathead County District Court on April 17. She set a pretrial conference for July 1. 

The March 21 confrontation began after employees of a U.S. 2 bar and grill on Kalispell's west side found Meyers, already banned from the premises, in the restaurant's bathroom, according to court documents. As two employees tried to escort Meyers out, he allegedly began struggling with them. That prompted the bar manager to pick Meyers up and carry him outside, depositing him on the ground.  

Once down, Meyer allegedly pulled a knife on the workers. They later described it to authorities as a large knife with a wooden handle, according to court documents.  

Two of the workers converged on Meyers, holding him to the ground, court documents said. A third phoned the Kalispell Police Department, which dispatched officers to the restaurant about 9:30 p.m. 

Released by the employees, Meyers left the parking lot on foot before the authorities arrived at the restaurant, court documents said. Officers later found him near another restaurant not far from the bar and grill and described him as wearing a chest armor vest carrier with an inserted front plate. A fixed blade knife with a wooden handle was attached to the front of the vest, court documents said.  

Under questioning, Meyers allegedly admitted to pulling the knife and said he regretted not being able to use it. 

Authorities later found a second knife in one of Meyers' bags, court documents said.  

If convicted, Meyers faces up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].