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Man tells police gun jam saved his life

Witnesses: Stidham fought with daughters, husband

New details have emerged about an incident Thursday that led to officers arresting a Havre woman on charges including attempted murder when a jammed gun is all that prevented a shooting, the allegations say.

Alleged victim Randy Stidham told investigating officers he was glad his estranged wife, Cindy Stidham, brought his .22 caliber pistol to his business instead of his 9 mm, because “that one does not jam and he would have been shot,” a document filed with the Havre City Court said.

The document was filed as evidence in a hearing requesting Cindy Stidham be held pending the Hill County Attorney filing formal charges in the case.

The Havre Daily News obtained the documents Tuesday from the Hill County Attorney’s Office at the direction of City Judge Margaret Hencz, who ordered Stidham be held on $75,000 bond following a hearing at some time Friday.

Havre Police Department representatives declined Friday to provide documents about the incident and arrest to the Havre Daily.

Stidham also is being held on $1,170 bond on charges of illegal possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia for which she also was arrested Thursday.

According to the document, two Havre police officers responded to a report made at 9:38 a.m. Thursday of five people fighting outside of Randy Stidham’s business, Stidham Computers and Security, on the 1400 Block of 1st Street.

The fight had broken up, and one of the officers approached a group including Stidham, who said the fight had happened right there.

Stidham told the officer that his wife had entered the building and walked to the front of the business while he was speaking on the telephone. His wife grabbed the phone from him and took off running into the residential part of the building, he said.

Stidham said he grabbed Cindy Stidham to try to get the phone back from her, and she said she was going to kill him and his girlfriend.

Randy Stidham said she broke free and reached into her pocket and pulled out his .22 caliber pistol. He said he knocked the pistol from her hands, and called for his daughters to help.

One of them grabbed the gun and ran into the residence, and the other got the phone away from Cindy Stidham and also ran into the residence, he said.

He said he let Cindy Stidham go at that time, and she then began to push him and one of his daughters, and that he and his daughter both had been scratched by Cindy Stidham during the fight.

Randy Stidham said he and his daughters were able to get into the residence portion and close the door. Cindy Stidham tried to keep him from closing the door, and then a person who had come with her was able to get the accused into the vehicle in which they had come, and they drove away.

Randy Stidham said after she left he noticed that the pistol had jammed.

After Hill County sheriff’s deputies located Cindy Stidham at her North Havre residence, the Havre officers went to the home and arrested her on two misdemeanor partner or family assault charges. Havre Police Assistant Chief of Operations Gabe Matosich said Monday that the felony attempted deliberate homicide charge was added after further investigation.

Judge Hencz issued two no-contact orders after Stidham was charged with the counts of family assault.

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

yep writes:

More typical Havre drama - this time with guns

 
 
 
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