Sheriff’s deputy arrests homicide suspect

Lake County law enforcement officers arrested a man Friday who is accused of a traffic-related homicide in Yellowstone County.

According to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell, one of his deputies saw 27-year-old Dominick Buccelli in a 2018 Dodge Ram in Polson.

The vehicle was determined to be stolen out of Bighorn County. When the deputy attempted to stop him, Buccelli attempted to flee. Buccelli was pursued by the deputy and a Polson Police Department officer at speeds up to 90 miles per hour in the Back Road and North Reservoir Road areas.

The pursuit ended near the intersection of U.S. 93 and North Reservoir Road and Buccelli was taken into custody.

Buccelli is lodged in the Lake County Jail with a total bond of $307,735. His charges include failure to appear, civil contempt of court, fleeing from police and driving on a suspended or revoked license.

According to the Billings Gazette, Buccelli, of Billings, had a warrant for his arrest on three felony charges that also included negligent vehicular assault and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

The charges stem from a hit-and-run crash July 20 that resulted in the death of a 49-year-old Billings woman. The woman, riding on the back of motorcycle stopped at the intersection of 72nd and Laurel Airport Road, was hit by a Chevrolet Impala. The crash sent the driver to the hospital and the woman died the scene.

The driver of the Impala left the scene, with MHP investigators searching for the suspect days after the crash.

Previous media reports indicate Buccelli has had run-ins with Lake County law officers.

In 2011, Buccelli pleaded guilty to two counts of driving without a valid license, expired more than 180 days.

He was found guilty and fined. Buccelli also pleaded guilty to operating with alcohol concentration of .02 percent, under 21 years of age, first offense. He was also found guilty of that offense.