Martin City man accused of threatening CPS worker

A Child Protective Services employee called the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office June 10 to report she and other employees had received threatening voicemail messages from a man identified as Tyler Scott Smith, 31, of Martin City, according to court documents.

On June 13, Smith was arrested for partner/family member assault and Child Protective Services removed his children.

The CPS employee said she and others were working on a case involving Smith’s two minor children. On June 3, CPS workers went to his home to remove the children, but no one was home.

The CPS employee said she and a coworker had received constant threatening voicemail messages, phone calls and text messages from Smith.

A deputy investigating the case listened to several voicemail messages in which Smith allegedly said he had AR-15 style rifles, body armor, drum magazines and shotguns ready. In another message to one of the workers, Smith allegedly said “I will kill you over my [profanity] kids. You know what that means? I will shoot you in your [profanity] face before you get my [profanity)] children. Do you understand that?”

According to the charging document, Smith continued to make threats during the trip to the Flathead County Detention Center and after arriving. He allegedly said he was proficient at building AR-15 style rifles and making them automatic. He also made references to building a gun and killing the CPS worker involved.

Smith had petitioned for a temporary order of protection in 2016 against a woman with whom he had a child with in the past. He said she was physically abusive against him in the past and had tried to stab him. At the time, Smith’s 7-month-old son was in the care of Child Protective Services.

The temporary order of protection was initially granted, but was later dismissed when District Judge Amy Eddy learned the woman had never been served.

In the current matter, Smith is charged with one felony count of threats and other improper influence in official and political matters. He is currently in the county jail on $200,000 bail. He faces a maximum term of 10 years in the Montana State Prison.