Jun 07, 2006 - 02:08:52 CDT
A Bismarck man has been charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor for allegedly ramming his girlfriend's house with his car and then barricading himself in his own house with a shotgun.Lynn Armen Christianson, 66, was arrested early Saturday morning after a standoff with police that lasted several hours, said Lt. Dan Donlin of the Bismarck Police Department.
Christianson was charged Monday in South Central District Court with criminal trespass, criminal mischief and preventing arrest, all Class C felonies, and menacing, a Class A misdemeanor.
Judge Robert Wefald set his bond at $5,000 cash or surety.
Donlin said police responded to the 2900 block of Manitoba Lane at 4:53 p.m. on Friday for a report of domestic assault and harassing.
Bonnie Evans, 65, had a golf-ball-sized lump on her head and small scratches on her face, Donlin said.
Evans told police she and Christianson had been arguing because Christianson said he was going to take a shotgun and "get rid of" the Veterans Affairs clinic, Donlin said.
She said Christianson had come to her house three times in the past day, Donlin said.
Sometime around 7:30 Friday night, Evans called to report that Christianson had returned to her home. He allegedly tried to break in by ramming the garage door with his car, tried to pry a garage door open and damaged two storm doors in his attempt to gain access to Evans' home, Donlin said.
Witnesses saw him return to his vehicle and leave when he failed to get into the house, Donlin said.
Evans advised police that Christianson is a Vietnam veteran, was off his medications and had a shotgun in his home, Donlin said.
When police arrived at Christianson's home on the 600 block of East Calgary Avenue, the front door was open, Donlin said.
Police shouted for Christianson to come out and speak to them, and the door slammed shut, Donlin said.
Officers called in the West Dakota SWAT team, which obtained a search warrant, Donlin said.
According to court documents, Christianson threatened officers with a shotgun and a piece of glass.
After several hours, the SWAT team made its way into the house and arrested Christianson, Donlin said.
At his bond hearing, Christianson said he's suffering from dementia and asked that instructions from Wefald and Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell be repeated several times.
The dispute "started over my veteran's check," Christianson said.
(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)
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