Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 12.18.13

14 | DECEMBER 18, 2013 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM

Columbia Falls Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting Deputy

Prosecutors release KPD This information was relayed up the and when he looked up, Gentry contin-
report clearing deputy chain of command, and a negotiations ued to advance with the handgun point-
team was called in. After about two ed at him. He ired a second series of
of any wrongdoing after hours of unsuccessful negotiations, the shots, hitting her twice. Pleasants ired a
undersherif decided to call in the SWAT total of 15 rounds.
shooting
team.
After Gentry received medical atten-
“Based on Gentry’s threats to use a tion and it was determined there was no
By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon
irearm to harm herself or others, the one else in the residence, the sherif’s of-
Flathead County Sherif’s Oice had an ice set up a crime scene perimeter and
The Columbia Falls woman charged obligation to secure a perimeter around notiied KPD to begin an investigation.
with a felony after a standof ended in a Gentry’s residence, to prevent escape KPD Capt. Warnell concluded that
SWAT deputy shooting her pleaded not or entrance, until the incident was re- the sherif’s oice had a legal obligation

guilty Thursday in District Court.
solved,” the report states.
to respond to Gentry’s residence, and
Michelle Gentry, 54, appeared before SWAT got into position at about that during the inal minutes of the re-
District Court Judge Robert Allison on 6:20 p.m., and at about 6:40 p.m., Gen- corded negotiations Gentry was aware
Dec. 12, entering a not guilty plea to the try allegedly opened a door and bran- of the law enforcement presence out-
charge of assault on a peace oicer. The dished the gun, screaming and waving it side. Warnell also wrote that Pleasants
charge stems from an Oct. 10 standof in around. Moments later, SWAT watched stated he felt like he was “looking down
which Gentry allegedly held a handgun Gentry leave through the main door and the barrel” of the pistol as Gentry ad-
while advancing on responding oicers walk between two vehicles parked in the vanced on him, and that the deputy used

outside a Columbia Falls residence.
Michelle Gentry. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
driveway.
“reasonable and necessary force” to stop
Gentry was shot twice at the end of Pleasants, who was covering the the threat.
the standof, sending her to Kalispell According to the reports, the call
SWAT arrest team, said Gentry made Pleasants, a six-year veteran of the
Regional Medical Center in critical con- about an armed, suicidal woman at an eye contact with him, raised the hand- sherif’s oice, was cleared for duty by
dition.
Eastland Crossroads residence came in gun, pointed it at him and said, “Do it, do an internal review board in early No-
Following her plea, the Flathead on Oct. 10 at about 2 p.m. The woman it, ****ing now!”
vember. The deputy had been placed on
County Attorney’s Oice released two had been involved in a family distur- The deputy, who said he feared im- administrative leave immediately fol-

of the reports iled by Kalispell Police bance the night before, the report states, minent death or serious bodily harm, lowing the shooting, according to Sher-
Department Capt. Scott Warnell af- which also involved a gun.
ired multiple rounds from his duty-is- if Chuck Curry, and the review board
ter the shooting. The Flathead County Responding deputies got a hold of sued, .223-caliber AR-15 rile at Gentry, found he had not deviated from or failed
Sherif’s Oice, which had responded Gentry on the phone, and said she told not realizing most of the rounds had to comply with policies and procedures
to a call about an armed suicidal wom- them she didn’t want their help, and that struck the cowling on the hood of the within the sherif’s oice. The charging
an, requested KPD’s involvement after “if deputies came to the residence she SWAT vehicle.
documents say Pleasants “responded
an FCSO deputy, Caleb Pleasants, shot would use the weapon and force them to Pleasants reported that he irst with force accordingly” in the situation.
Gentry.
shoot her.”
thought his weapon had malfunctioned,
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