Krista Corner Havre Daily News kcorner@havredailynews.com
After a three-hour standoff early Saturday, Hill County sheriff’s deputies arrested and transported a Havre police officer to the behavioral health unit at Northern Montana Hospital. Hill County Sheriff Greg Szudera today said Havre police officer Shane Huston and Hill County deputies and Havre police were involved in a standoff early Saturday morning after Huston began shooting rounds of ammunition into his garage and into the air. “Numerous shots were fired (during) the three-hour standoff,” Szudera said. “We went into the house and talked Mr. Huston down After he quieted down, he was handcuffed and transported to behavioral health.” Information has been turned over to the Hill County Attorney’s Office, he said. Szudera said he and police officer Derek Mahlum spoke to Huston during the incident. “I went in and was negotiating with him to give himself up,” he said. “He was intoxicated and in a disturbed, distressed state of mind. He was threatening bodily harm to himself and anyone that came into his home.” He said the incident began when Huston got his pickup truck stuck on some rocks in a yard while driving home. A caller at 1:30 a.m. Saturday reported that there was a big pickup stuck on some rocks in a yard in the 500 block of Sixth Street North. The caller said the driver was spinning the tires trying to get loose. Szudera said Huston finally gave up trying to free his vehicle and got a ride home. After arriving home, Huston grabbed his weapons and began firing shots into the air and into his garage, Szudera said. He said neighbors on both sides of Huston’s Shepherd Road residence were evacuated for fear they might get hurt. They were allowed to return home after the incident. According to city documents, Huston has worked with the Police Department for about 11 years. Havre Assistant Police Chief George Tate today said the Police Department has no comment. A hospital official could not be reached for comment.
