California man arrested in county for warrants

A California man was arrested earlier this month in Bonner County on multiple outstanding warrants out of California as well as giving false information to an officer.

On June 8, a Bonner County Sheriff’s deputy was driving in Clark Fork when he noticed a truck that did not have a front license plate, which is required by Idaho Code. When the deputy pulled over the vehicle, the driver began to exit the vehicle despite receiving instructions to stay inside, according to court records.

When contacted, the driver claimed his name was Michael Osakowskia and continued to try and exit the vehicle, according to court records. After multiple commands were given to the driver to stay in his vehicle, court records contend the deputy attempted to run the man’s name, but no results were found in any U.S. state.

“I recognized the suspect’s actions of attempting to separate himself from the vehicle, despite being told not to, to be suspicious if not a pre-attack indicator,” the deputy wrote in the probable cause affidavit.

Because of his suspicious behavior, the deputy placed the driver in handcuffs, at which point court records said he stated his real name.

Andrew Simons, 37, told deputies he was on the run from the law in California, which is why he provided false information, according to court records. When his real name was run, deputies discovered he had two warrants out of California: one for burglary and one for stalking.

While the investigation was still taking place, the probable cause affidavit said Simons also allegedly pulled a bag of marijuana out of his pants and tossed it toward the officer, admitting that it was his. He told deputies there was no need to search the vehicle as that was all he had, court records contend.

When deputies searched the vehicle, multiple marijuana containers and pipes were allegedly found throughout the truck as well as two handguns, court records said. Simons’s mother arrived on scene and claimed ownership of both the truck and the two handguns, which were released to her.

Simons was arrested for charges of being a fugitive from justice, a felon in possession of a firearm, giving false information to an officer and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. His bail is set at $250,000 and a preliminary hearing will be on June 21.