Police investigating hit-and-run injury

A party-goer woke up early Aug. 4 to an unpleasant surprise - a broken leg, a broken ankle and numerous lacerations.

Polson resident Gyme Kelly fell asleep at a party at the Rope Swing near Sloan's Bridge on the eastern side of Sanders County. He woke up in pain, not exactly sure what had happened to him.

“He doesn't remember any assault,” Sanders County Undersheriff Rube Wrightsman said. “That's very uncommon. Generally, people remember very well when they've been assaulted, especially if there's been no head injuries.”

Sanders County Dispatch received a call at approximately 4 a.m., stating that Kelly had been stabbed with a knife and possibly tasered before being run over by a car. Wrightsman said the caller based their information on rumors circulating through the party. Out of more than 100 people present, no eyewitnesses have yet come forward.

“There were rumors flying through the crowd,” Wrightsman explained. “They heard there was a stabbing. Someone thought they saw a taser.”

Doctors examined Kelly at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan before sending him to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. An emergency room doctor who treated Kelly at St. Patrick ruled out physical assault as a cause of the injuries. Two other hospital staff felt Kelly's wounds were more likely caused by a car than a knife or a taser.

“It was not likely he was stabbed,” Wrightsman said. “At this time, we think he was run over with a car. We don't know if it was accidental or intentional.”

Kelly had been in at least one altercation earlier during the party, but Wrightsman said there hadn't been any injuries in the incident. The sheriff's office has several suspects, but information has been difficult to collect because of the lack of eyewitnesses.

Wrightsman wants to quash the stabbing rumors because of threats against people who may or may not have been involved in the incident.

“I'm concerned that people could take revenge on someone who didn't do anything,” he said.

Officers from the Flathead Tribal Police, the Lake County Sheriffs Office, the Hot Springs Police, and the Sanders County Sheriffs Office all responded to the incident. The Sanders County Sheriff's Office is asking for information from people who may have either seen or have direct knowledge of the car hitting Kelly.