C-Falls man faces charges in alleged car theft

A Columbia Falls man is facing felony theft and criminal contempt charges for stealing a friend’s car in Whitefish before crashing and fleeing the vehicle shortly after.

Samuel Price was arrested in Kalispell on a warrant on Jan. 30 for the November 2015 theft of a Cadillac SRX, which belonged to another Columbia Falls resident. According to the police report, Price and the man met at the Bandit Bar and Saloon in Columbia Falls on Nov, 15, 2015. Later in the night the man booked a room at the Stumptown Inn in Whitefish. Price took off with the man’s keys and wallet while he was in the bathroom. The man reported hearing the door slam and seeing Price speeding away down the road.

Shortly after, Whitefish Police Officer Ryan Zebro was notified of a crash on Highway 93 S involving the stolen Cadillac, but Price was gone when officers arrived.

Bail is set at $15,000 and Price is currently being held at the Flathead County Jail. He faces a state prison term not to exceed 10 years and/or a maximum fine of $50,000. Price has an order to show cause hearing on March 8. Judge Robert Allison is presiding over the case.