A Poplar man who assaulted a police officer with a hammer was sentenced to prison. 

Nolan Hendrickson, 34, appeared in Great Falls Federal Court Monday, February 13, 2023, for his sentencing. He initially pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in September 2022.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris sentenced to 38 months in prison (three years and two months) for his guilty plea to assault with a dangerous weapon. 

Court documents state that in March 2022 on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, police were responding to a call that Hendrickson assaulted and strangled a woman at his mother’s apartment. 

Police responded and found Hendrickson strangling the woman. 

The victim, a police officer, tried to stop the assault, but Hendrickson lunged at the officer and hit her in the face with a hammer. 

Another responding officer fired a round at Hendrickson but missed. 

As police arrested Hendrickson, he continued to be combative. 

Hendrickson acknowledged he had been using alcohol and methamphetamine. 

The victim was treated for injuries from the hammer assault.