Honduran man charged after allegedly swinging knife at man in Helena Dairy Queen parking lot

A Honduran man was charged with felony assault with a weapon in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court Friday after allegedly swinging a knife at a man in a Dairy Queen parking lot.

Jorge Samuel Lopez Bardales, 27, was arrested after Helena police responded to the Dairy Queen at 1700 Prospect Ave. for a reported altercation involving a knife around 12:30 p.m on Thursday.

According to charging documents, the complainant told police Bardales swung a knife at a man.

The man told law enforcement Bardales cut him off while driving on Prospect and they entered the Dairy Queen parking lot, where they began to argue.

The man said he pushed Bardales away from him after he got close then Bardales pulled a knife from his right pocket and swung it at him.

Law enforcement interviewed Bardales, who said he pulled out the knife after the man "pushed or punched" him in the chest.

A witness told law enforcement they saw the blade being swung at the man. Video surveillance from the restaurant showed both vehicles pulling into the parking lot and two individuals arguing outside.

"The defendant takes several steps toward the victim with the knife blade out, while the victim retreats and puts his arms up to defend himself," the court complaint states.

The defendant was positively identified at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center after law enforcement discovered Bardales did not have a valid ID or passport and was a Honduran national.

He was further identified through paperwork from the South Texas ICE Processing Center.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said Bardales would not be handed over to immigration officials despite his undocumented status.

"He will be seen by the court and go through the process," Dutton said. "As long as there are criminal charges, we will hold him."

Bardales was listed in the detention center Friday.