GREAT FALLS- A Great Falls police officer was shot and another was injured while assisting Toole County authorities with a standoff situation in Shelby earlier this week, department officials said Thursday.
On Monday, Toole County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Kevin for a report of a possible shooting and found Jeromy Bryant, 43, of Kevin, dead at the scene.
Further investigation revealed that a suspect, Richard Moench, 50, of Shelby, had reportedly taken a female at gunpoint from the Kevin residence to his home in Shelby.
Moench then barricaded himself in his home, according to the Toole County Sheriff’s Office, and deputies blocked off the area, which was near Marias Medical Center.
Toole County Sheriff Donna Whitt had contacted the Great Falls Police Department’s High Risk Unit for assistance. A negotiator from the Conrad Police Department was also called.
Officials negotiated with Moench, who eventually released the female hostage.
Upon her safe release, Moench would not respond to negotiations and while inside his home, he fired several rounds at high-risk unit members, according to the Great Falls police. A high-risk unit officer was struck by one of the rounds.
While Moench was moving towards the front door of the home, he was shot by one of the HRU members. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another HRU member was also injured during the situation. Details about that injury were not available.
Both injured HRU members were treated and released. They have returned to their normal assigned duties.
Following protocol, the high-risk unit member involved in the shooting is on administrative leave, according to Great Falls police.
