Charges refiled in hit-and-run death

GREAT FALLS (AP) — State prosecutors have re-filed negligent homicide and criminal endangerment charges against a north-central Montana man charged with backing over three people with his pickup, killing one.

Charles Geoffrey Santoro, 26, of Kevin was initially charged shortly after the Aug. 19 collision outside a Sunburst bar that killed Levi Rowell, 36. The charges were later dismissed to allow for further investigation.

In mid-February, the attorney general’s office refiled the charges,.

Santoro had been drinking and talking with Rowell that evening, a bartender at the Vet’s Club Bar told investigators. Santoro got angry after an exchange with another patron, court records said, and he loudly complained as he was leaving that he was a veteran and couldn’t get a drink in a veteran’s bar.

“None of you are vets,” Santoro allegedly shouted.

“Neither are you, Geoff,” court records quote Rowell as responding.

Witnesses said Santoro “exploded,” kicked open the back door and went out to the parking lot. People heard the sound of breaking glass.

Levi Rowell and his wife Tiffany and Justin Gallup followed Santoro out of the bar concerned that he had done something to Levi Rowell’s vehicle, court records said.

Santoro and another man who was sitting in his pickup told investigators that Levi Rowell grabbed Santoro by the neck and started choking him. Gallup said he restrained Rowell by the shoulder to keep him from fighting with Santoro and that the two men only yelled at each other, court records said.

Then, Santoro’s truck lurched into reverse at a high rate of speed, sweeping the Rowells and Gallup back and knocking all three to the ground, charging documents said.

Levi Rowell died at the scene. Justin Gallup suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken shoulder blade. He and Tiffany Rowell had numerous abrasions.

About 40 minutes later, officers said Santoro called Toole County dispatchers saying he wanted to tell his side of the story.

After officers took him into custody he said he hoped Rowell was dead or paralyzed from the neck down.