HELENA – Sheriffs from Lewis and Clark and Jefferson counties say the operation to recover a stolen vehicle used in a November chase and shooting is a good example of Montana law enforcement departments working together.
On November 13 a Jefferson County deputy tried to stop a blue Chrysler 300 just north of Boulder.
Court records state driver fled and a passenger in the vehicle fired at least three shots.
For the first time, Sheriff Craig Doolittle shared a picture with MTN of the deputy’s damaged cruiser, showing where a bullet hit the hood and windshield.
The deputy involved was not physically injured during the incident and is reportedly doing well.
“You always get a little anxiety when something like that happens, but he’s doing good,” said Doolittle.
A confidential informant helped investigators track the stolen car to a property on Canyon Ferry road.
50-year old Michelle George was arrested on scene and has been charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a felony.
Sheriff Leo Dutton noted that deputies initially requested permission from the residents to search the property but were denied which lead to them obtaining a search warrant.
Information gained from the vehicle that the shooting suspects were driving while apprehended in Idaho lead law enforcement to the Canyon Ferry road property.
Dutton said that it’s mutual cooperation like this that keeps officers and the public safe.
“We need to be able to communicate and cooperate with our neighbors and be good neighbors,” said Dutton, “When they need help we go help them. We we need help they’re right on spot. They’re right here helping us and that’s the attitude that we have here in this state.”
“It was a huge cooperative effort between are two agencies and it really shows what two agencies can do when working together, “ said Doolittle. “Our neighboring agencies really do help us out a lot and however we can help them out we do that too.”
Both Doolittle and Dutton want to thank all the agencies across the the state and in Idaho that have assisted in this case.
The investigation is still ongoing and law enforcement are actively following additional leads.
