Gas station incident ends in assault charges
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A Ronan man is accused of carrying out an unprovoked attack against another man at a gas station in Ronan last July.
Dustin James Guardipee, 38, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on April 28 to felony aggravated assault.
According to court records, on July 18, 2020, Ronan police responded to an unknown incident at the Town Pump. At the scene, a woman reported seeing a man get out of a gold-colored minivan and assault another man.
Video surveillance shows the victim fall to the ground. The victim suffered a broken jaw, which required surgery. The minivan was located at Guardipee’s residence, which is where a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy was already on scene.
Law enforcement learned through an investigation and interview with Guardipee’s mother that Guardipee was a passenger in the minivan when he got out of the minivan, punched the alleged victim in the face, got back in the minivan and demanded that the driver in the vehicle drive away.
A warrant for $50,000 was issued, and Guardipee was located in Missoula County where he was being held on unrelated matters. Judge James Manley set a trial date for Oct. 18.
