Man shoots at Two Bear Air helicopter, others, but gives himself up after Sheriff K-9 unit intervenes
A deputy with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office stands at the end of a lane near the scene of a shooting incident along Sullivan Crossroad near Columbia Falls Stage on Wednesday, Sept. 4. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
by MATT BALDWIN
Daily Inter Lake | September 4, 2024 12:00 PM
A Flathead County K9 unit was used to apprehend a suspect involved in a standoff early Wednesday morning after he allegedly shot at multiple people and the Two Bear Air helicopter.
According to a press release from Sheriff Brian Heino, 56-year-old Travis Myers was taken into custody during the incident on Sullivan Crossroad near Columbia Falls Stage Road.
A Daily Inter Lake delivery driver first alerted law enforcement at approximately 2 a.m., after seeing a green laser aimed at them and hearing gunshots from a nearby field. The driver believed they were being shot at and called 911.
Another person called 911 who sounded like they were in distress and was heard pleading with someone to put down their gun. When the deputies arrived at the scene, they heard gunfire coming from the home.
After driving away from the home, the victim told deputies on the scene that Myers had shot at them, the release stated.
Heino said rapid gunfire continued to ring out from the home, along with a green laser being pointed around the area.
Due to the escalating scenario, a drone was used to assess the scene, but Myers allegedly shot it down.
The Northwest Montana Regional SWAT team and Two Bear Air were called to the scene as gunfire continued, with Myers allegedly pointing the laser at various targets and shooting at the helicopter.
Heino said a SWAT team engaged Myers while he was in the home's doorway with a rifle at his feet. Less-lethal munitions were used after Myers allegedly refused to surrender, but he remained uncooperative, Heino said.
The standoff finally ended after the Sheriff's Office K9 unit successfully apprehended Myers, who was taken into custody without further incident.
"The combined efforts of the Northwest Montana Regional SWAT team, the K9 unit, and all responding agencies ensured that the standoff ended peacefully, with no injuries to innocent bystanders, victims, officers or medical personnel," Heino stated in the media release.