Man Threatening To Kill Himself Arrested

After more than 10 hours of negotiations, Kootenai County Sheriff’s officials arrested a man who threatened to kill himself with a shotgun.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Denny J. Kallas, 30, early Friday morning on several charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm.

Sheriff’s officials evacuated a neighborhood after the Heutter man repeatedly refused to emerge from a boarding house on Reeves Street.

Kallas had called a counselor and threatened to kill himself at about 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger. Deputies found the man in his boarding house room with a shotgun to his chin.

About 30 people were evacuated as sheriff’s officials tried to talk Kallas out. The sheriff’s department called the Red Cross to find housing for about 15 of those evacuated.

Wolfinger said the man appeared to be distraught over pending court action against him.

Kallas is scheduled to appear in court on drunken driving, obscene conduct and trespassing charges in August.

At about 1 a.m. Friday, the sheriff’s Special Response Unit threw a flash device into Kallas’ room to distract him. Officers then overpowered Kallas.

He was charged with obstructing police officers, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He is being held at the Kootenai County Jail on $100,000 bail.

, DataTimes