A Federal Way man faces federal charges for stealing a rifle from a Walmart in Montana and possessing a stolen firearm.

Schuyler Stewart Zwar waived his preliminary hearing this morning at his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Billings, Montana.

Federal prosecutors allege Zwar, 38, entered the Walmart in Billings, Montana at around noon on Sept. 7 and stole a firearm by attempting to assault a clerk.

Captured on video surveillance, the suspect looked at the firearms display case and requested help from the clerk, who laid about five guns out to show the suspect.

After the two went to look at ammunition, video footage shows the man, alleged to be Zwar, take a knife out of his left pants pocket and bring it to the clerk’s neck from behind.

“The clerk reported that it was at this time that the male held a knife to the clerk’s throat and that the male tried to cut the clerk several times,” the affidavit states.

Although the clerk was able to “calmly” get away while the man left the area, the suspect returned swinging a large yellow crowbar. Two other Walmart employees joined the clerk and they all witnessed the man smash the glass out of the display case, take a Bushmaster, model M-16, .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle and flee.

At one point the clerk had to distance himself from the suspect with a shopping cart, according to the affidavit.

Witnesses stated they saw the suspect drive off in a white passenger car, similar to a Subaru.

More than three hours later, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper in Jefferson County (Montana) began pursuit of a driver in a white 2000 Saturn going 85 mph in a 75 mph zone.

“The vehicle then led troopers on a pursuit for approximately 20 miles,” the affidavit continues, noting it was stopped after troopers used spike strips to disable the suspect’s tires.

The driver was identified at Zwar and he was arrested for the traffic crime.

An immediate search revealed a Wyoming Home Depot receipt for a 36 inch DeWalt crowbar. Later on Sept. 9, a state of Montana search warrant execution on Zwar’s car turned up the stolen rifle from Walmart, three boxes of ammunition and the yellow crowbar.

Because the rifle was not manufactured in the state of Montana and traveled through interstate commerce, the case is being tried in U.S. District Court.

Zwar’s last known address is on South Star Lake Road in Federal Way, according to Montana police.

Lt. Mark Cady with the Billings Police Department said Zwar is currently being held at the city jail for the federal charges. It is unknown at this time what his bail amount is.

The Mirror will update this report as more information becomes available.