Burgert search scaled back

LOLO — The ground hunt for a former Flathead Valley militia leader accused of firing a gun at sheriff’s deputies was scaled back Tuesday after authorities said suspect David Burgert disappeared into the woods near the Idaho border.

Missoula County Undersheriff Mike Dominick says law enforcement agents would continue to search a 50-square-mile area centered on the Lolo National Forest in the search for Burgert, an ex-convict with a long criminal record.

But Dominick said Burgert — a practiced survivalist — could have escaped the area where the search initially focused, possibly in a 1987 Jeep Wagoneer that Burgert owns but authorities have been unable to find.

“The area is so large we’ve expanded it out from a ground search to more of a road search,” Dominick said. “We don’t know if he’s still there. We’re speaking to as many people that know him as we can, trying to develop investigative leads.”

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said Tuesday afternoon that he hadn’t received any new information on the search for Burgert. He said he has tried to stay in contact with Missoula County Sheriff’s Office authorities since the search began.

Curry wouldn’t discuss specific security measures, but noted that efforts have been made to keep certain Flathead Valley public officials safe.

Burgert is the former leader of a small Flathead County militia group known as Project 7 that was accused of plotting to assassinate local officials and overthrow the federal government. 

“Certainly I think we’re being diligent when it comes to security,” Curry said.

Burgert, 47, is 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 230 pounds, and has brown eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a bluish shirt and a fanny pack and is believed to be armed with a handgun and possibly a rifle.

Authorities believe he had been living out of a vehicle in the Lolo area, and searchers have discovered several caches of food, weapons and gear in the search area, Dominick said.

The shift in the manhunt came as federal authorities said they had obtained arrest warrants for Burgert for attempted homicide and probation violations.

Burgert, who was diagnosed with paranoia, never was charged in an assassination plot. He reached a plea agreement in 2003, pleading guilty to federal weapons charges including possession of a machine gun. Four other members of Project 7 pleaded guilty in the case and received lesser sentences.

Burgert was released from prison in March 2010 after serving eight years. He was barred from possessing firearms as a condition of his release, Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Rod Ostermilller said.

“I could best describe him as a bully,” Curry said. “He’s one of those people you’re constantly dealing with — confrontations with law enforcement, confrontations with neighbors.”

Authorities have been contacting Burgert’s former associates in case he attempts to return to Kalispell, his former home, Curry said Tuesday.

Curry was in charge of the Flathead SWAT team when Burgert was the subject of a similar manhunt in February 2002 west of Kalispell.

In January of that year Burgert attempted to stage his death along the Flathead River to escape a pending warrant for his arrest, Curry said.

When officers later pulled over a vehicle Burgert was driving with his girlfriend as a passenger, Burgert bailed out and ran through the woods, Curry said. That sparked an all-night chase that ended the next morning with Burgert cornered and holding a gun to his head.

After a standoff of several hours, Burgert surrendered, Curry said.

“Certainly based on what happened, Burgert is a very dangerous individual,” he said.