HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A Box Elder man that Havre Police say spit pepper spray back in an Officer’s face after being arrested for refusing to leave Havre Ford has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
29-year-old Lance Jordan Courchane was arraigned in Hill County District Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the felonies of assault on a Peace Officer and assault with a bodily fluid, as well as the misdemeanors of resisting arrest, criminal trespass to property, and driving under the influence.
Court records state that on November 27th, Havre Police Officers were dispatched to Havre Ford after an employee reported “a male in the showroom was under the influence of something and causing a disturbance.”
Officers arrived at the scene and the male, later identified as Courchane, walked towards an Officer. Courchane appeared either unable or unwilling to respond to commands from the Officers. When Officers asked for Courchane’s name after he refused to take his hands out of his pockets, he replied, “I am your father.”
Courchane was then placed in handcuffs for officer safety. Courchane resisted attempts from Officers to place his hands behind his back, screaming and accusing the officers of “raping him.”
Officers found a knife in Courchane’s right coat pocket and had to physically escort him to the patrol car because he refused to move on his own.
While Officers attempted to get Courchane in the patrol car, he exposed himself. Courchane continued to resist and Officers ended up pepper spraying him, with some of it going into his mouth. Courchane then spit the spray at an Officer’s face.
Shortly after that, Officers were able to get Courchane fully into the patrol car. However, during transport to the Detention Center, court documents state that Courchane “pulled his hands under his legs and brought them back to his front. (Courchane) then removed his pants and began stroking his penis.”
Havre Police conducted interviews with Havre Ford Employees, who told them that Courchane drove up to the dealership in a vehicle with temporary plates. Upon entering the building, the employees say Courchane was speaking nonsense, called himself a god and said that he created electricity. At one point, Courchane sat in an office. He refused to leave after being asked numerous times.
No future court dates have been set.
Courchane was ordered to be released from the Hill County Detention Center on his own recognizance, but must reside with his mother and wear a monitoring device.
