A man accused of opening fire at a Kalispell bar late last year and then fled the police in a pickup truck received a trio of sentences in June.  

Prosecutors brought Anthony Velez, 39, up on felony counts of criminal endangerment and aggravated fleeing from or eluding a peace officer as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, second offense, following his Nov. 22 arrest. Although he pleaded not guilty at his Dec. 18 arraignment in Flathead County District Court, Velez took a deal in April.  

In exchange for a trio of guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed to recommend Velez receive a suspended five-year sentence to the state Department of Corrections for criminal endangerment and a partially suspended one-year sentence for the drunk driving charge. For the aggravated fleeing charge, prosecutors would recommend Velez receive a five-year sentence with the Department of Corrections.  

Judge Dan Wilson stuck to the deal at Velez's June 11 sentencing. He ordered the sentences for the two felonies to run consecutively and gave Velez credit for 202 days of time served. 

Dispatchers sent Kalispell Police officers to a bar near Woodland Park about 12:36 a.m., Nov. 22 for reports of a man firing a gun before taking off in a Ford F-150 bearing California license plates, according to court documents. An officer headed east on Second Street East spotted a truck matching the description given by onlookers stopped near the intersection with Third Avenue East. As the officer turned around to make a traffic stop, Velez headed onto Second Avenue East and began going the wrong way down the one-way street, court documents said.  

Ignoring the officers' lights and sirens, Velez allegedly sped up, hitting speeds of about 70 mph as he fled. The chase, which carried on for about four blocks, ended with Velez colliding with a fire hydrant.  

Although the pickup was stuck, Velez continued to press on the gas, court documents said. Velez eventually threw it into reverse and freed himself, but then backed into a stand of trees.  

As more officers arrived on the scene, Velez exited the pickup and surrendered, court documents said. He refused to participate in field sobriety tests, but allegedly admitted to drinking beer at the bar and smoking marijuana in the days leading up to his arrest. He later consented to a blood draw, court documents said. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.