Man Allegedly Kicked, Strangled, and Threatened to Kill His Girlfriend

On Sunday, a Missoula Police officer was dispatched to take a report of an assault that had occurred on Friday at the Inn on Broadway. An adult female reported that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend who was identified as 37-year-old Zachary Funke. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“The victim reported that she and Funke had engaged in an argument over relationship issues that quickly escalated when he grabbed her by the throat with both hands, limiting her ability to breath, and threw her against the wall,” Welsh said. “She reported that he then knocked her down and kicked her in the side before grabbing a knife, threatening his own life, and then holding it to her throat.”

The officer observed that the victim had multiple injuries to her face, head, neck, arms and legs. The officer located Funke in the same room at the hotel and placed him under arrest.

Funke appeared in Missoula Justice Court Monday afternoon and Judge Alex Beal provided the follow statement.

“I realize these are just allegations and certainly there are times when allegations turn out not to be true,” Beal said. “With that being said, I have been doing this for a bit and I get a feel for when things have truth to them and are maybe likely to change. There is a whole lot here that seems like it is probably pretty spot on. I think that we were probably so very close to this being so much worse. I don’t think there is any reason that you should be released from detention. I am going to make sure that doesn’t happen right now. I am going to set a $500,000 bond.”

Funke was charged with felony assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, partner or family member assault, and criminal mischief.