Posted on 04/15/2005 2:19:45 PM PDT by FreedomHasACost
MISSOULA— The Missoula police officer who was shot in the chest and leg Wednesday night was saved by his bulletproof vest and the keys to his handcuffs.
The keys, which Officer Rick Stevenson kept in the breast pocket of his uniform, deflected the first bullet, which then shattered and sent shrapnel into his arm, Missoula Police Lt. Mark Muir said Thursday.
"His vest absolutely saved his life," Muir said.
The second bullet struck Stevenson in the leg, breaking but not shattering the bone.
Stevenson is being treated at St. Patrick Hospital and is recovering well, Missoula County Sheriff's Capt. Susan Hintz said. The decision about when he can return to work will be made by his doctors.
The man who fired two rounds at Stevenson was identified Thursday as 30-year-old Justin James Banta of Billings.
Banta was met with return fire from three officers and died at the scene on Hickory Street, a block south of McCormick Park. At a morning briefing, Hintz released more details about the events leading to the shooting.
At about 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Missoula police officers were investigating a report of a hit-and-run accident. An officer found the pickup truck involved in the crash abandoned on South Third Street West near Orange Street.
The truck was registered to Tobin David Walker, 27, but officers later determined the vehicle was actually owned by Banta.
According to Hintz, Banta called Walker and asked him to "report the truck stolen as it had gotten into some trouble." Walker did as Banta asked.
An hour after the vehicle was found, Banta was seen taking items from the pickup and officers again responded to the scene.
Banta fled on foot and was initially pursued by an officer on a motorcycle. Banta, who was carrying a bag, shot at the officer and missed.
After the shot was fired, nine police cars responded to the call. At that point, officers were pursuing Banta down Hickory Street, which runs parallel to the railroad tracks and intersects with McCormick Park.
Banta hid under a small bridge on Hickory Street that crosses a dry drainage ditch.
Three police officers cornered Banta there, and yelled at him to come out showing his hands.
Banta fired two shots at the officers, and the officers returned fire.
Missoula Police Chief Bob Weaver said Stevenson was able to return fire despite being hit. Officer Mark Blood and Sgt. Geron Wade also fired at Banta.
It was not known Thursday how many shots hit Banta, police said. An autopsy was not yet completed, and Hintz said information will not be released until next week.
Immediately after the shooting, at another nearby location, Walker turned himself in and was arrested on a warrant for drug charges. He is now being held in the Missoula County jail on $500,000 bail.
He has not been charged with any crime related to the shooting.
Banta had previously been arrested in February and charged with a DUI (his third), resisting arrest, obstructing officers, drug possession, no insurance and a suspended driver's license. He was released Feb. 22 after his bond was posted by Earl Rowe, a bondsman.
A search warrant was obtained for the pickup and Banta's residence Thursday, but police would not release information on what was found in the search and will not until the conclusion of investigation.
Chief Weaver said counseling will be made available to his officers, but is not mandatory. Because of their close working relationship, he said he is relying on his officers to watch out for one another.
Aw, trial by return fire. Case closed. That is called swift justice.
Anyone know what level of armor, what the perp was shooting, the armor manufacturer... ANYTHING?
Other than that he was no doubt a model citizen. Well, that and a few shots taken at some cops.
I'm thinking Montana may not have lost its number-one rocket scientist here...
Too bad. With all the hubbub about the Zylon vest material, I'm real interested in finding out whether the guy was wearing (for example) a Second Chance Ultima/Ultimax, whether it was a IIA or IIIA, and what he got shot with.
Go ahead and commit suicide, if you choose, but leave the cops out of it.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm glad he's dead. The world is a much better place without that kind of evil.
BTW - Trollin! Trollin! Trollin down the river!
News flash... people who shoot cops, whatever their motivation, can and should be judged.
"No one is perfect" is your response to your "friend" shooting a cop? You have a really warped sense of right and wrong.
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