Jury trial set for December in hostage case
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Edward Hardy
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A Polson man who took his girlfriend hostage during an armed standoff with police is facing a jury trial in December on charges stemming from the incident.
Edward Dale Hardy, 63, entered a not guilty plea at District Court in Polson on July 29 to felony charges of kidnapping, assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment.
According to court records, on July 8, Polson police responded to the Bellevue Trailer Court located along U.S. Highway 93 in Polson after a woman called 911 to report her boyfriend had fired his weapon inside the residence and was refusing to let her leave. Other residents of the trailer court also reported hearing shots fired.
A responding officer approached the trailer where the disturbance was reported and noticed two bullet holes. The officer retreated to his patrol unit. At about that same time that the officer moved to his car, the woman who first reported the shooting called 911 dispatchers again to report that her boyfriend, later identified as Hardy, was now barricading himself inside the trailer home. She also said Hardy told her to say he had explosives inside the home. Area residents were forced to evacuate their homes as a precaution.
Police were eventually able to negotiate the woman’s release as multiple law enforcement agencies responded to assist. Hardy was able to escape his house through a window. A Polson police officer subdued Hardy as he was attempting to enter a vehicle. Police would later find what was described in court as a “pipe bomb” inside Hardy’s home.
Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher denied a request for bond reduction. She set a trial date of Dec. 6. Hardy remains in the Lake County jail with bail set at $200,000.
