Man shoots at tribal officer in St. Ignatius standoff
<p>Brittney Oliver/Lake County Leader A Montana Highway Patrol trooper stands near his vehicle during a shooting and manhunt Tuesday in St. Ignatius. Brittney Oliver/Lake County Leader A Montana Highway Patrol trooper stands near his vehicle during a shooting and manhunt Tuesday in St. Ignatius.</p>
By Michelle Lovato
Lake County Leader
A man with a $30,000 warrant allegedly shot at tribal officers then ran from the scene near St. Ignatius Tuesday afternoon, according to Lake County sheriff’s dispatch.
After a two-hour chase on foot and subsequent manhunt, law enforcement officials arrested the man and transported him to Lake County Detention Center in Polson. The tribal officer was not injured in the shooting.
The suspect, who was pulled over by tribal officers before he allegedly shot the gun and fled the scene in downtown St. Ignatius, darted behind a business and into a ditch, county dispatch said.
Emergency responders told dispatch the suspect fell, then got up and ran down the ditch and away from law enforcement officers.
Law enforcement officers and medical first responders sped toward the chase scene. The suspect was believed to be 6-foot tall and 155 pounds with long-black hair, a green camo jacket and blue jeans.
The suspect continued running southeast along the canal in which he traveled as dispatchers continued to inform other responders. About 45 minutes after the case began, law enforcement officers followed the suspect’s foot prints into a St. Mary Road home about one half mile away from the start of the chase. The man was arrested about an hour later, according to a scanner traffic report. He was allegedly in possession of crystal methamphetamine, Tribal Officer Bill Dupuis said.
About 12 law enforcement officers responded to the scene. No further information was available at presstime.
— Brittney Oliver contributed to this report.