A Columbia Falls man accused of running a woman off a Trumble Creek Road property in 2023 saw his case dismissed earlier this year.

Matthew Hallas, 34, pleaded not guilty to a single felony count of assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court following the April 29, 2023 confrontation.  

But prosecutors moved to drop the charge earlier this year. In a motion filed March 14, Deputy County Attorney Ashley Frechette wrote that the victim in the case was not cooperating with her office. Judge Heidi Ulbricht, who presided over the case, ordered it dismissed that same day.  

A woman told Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies that Hallas told her to get off his property before firing a gun that she described as a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, according to court documents. She said she believed Hallas was preparing to shoot her and alleged he had previously assaulted her, court documents said.  

A witness recounted seeing Hallas firing a handgun and investigators later recovered two spent 9 mm casings on the Trumble Creek Road property, according to court documents. 

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