HELENA – The 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.
A Jefferson County deputy tried to stop a blue Chrysler 300 just north of Boulder on November 13 with court records stating that the driver fled and a passenger in the vehicle fired at least three shots.
The deputy involved was not 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 Jefferson County Sheriff Craig Doolittle.
A confidential informant helped investigators track the stolen car to a property on Canyon Ferry Road. Michelle George, 50, was arrested on scene and has been charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a felony.
Lewis and Clark County 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 led law enforcement to the Canyon Ferry Road property.
Sheriff 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 Sheriff Dutton, “When they need help we go help them. When 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 our two agencies and it really shows what two agencies can do when working together, “ said Sheriff Doolittle. “Our neighboring agencies really do help us out a lot and however we can help them out we do that too.”
Both sheriffs want to thank all the agencies across the state — and in Idaho — that have assisted in this case. The investigation is still ongoing and law enforcement are actively following additional leads.
–John Reilly reporting for MTN News
