Sheriff's Office denies lawsuit allegations
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has formally denied allegations that a deputy used excessive force when he shot a woman during a 2013 standoff near Columbia Falls.
Michelle Gentry sued the Sheriff’s Office and personnel in April, seeking damages after being shot twice. She was suicidal and armed during the standoff.
The lawsuit names Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry, Undersheriff Dave Leib and Deputy Caleb Pleasants, among others.
This month, the Sheriff’s Office filed its first response in the case. The document categorically denies that commanders and deputies violated Gentry’s rights.
Among the line-item denials, the Sheriff’s Office refutes the allegation that Gentry threatened nobody’s life but her own. In another, it denies that Pleasants fired without verbally warning Gentry.
What’s clear is that the Sheriff’s Office responded to Gentry’s home on Oct. 10, 2013. Gentry was barricaded inside and was threatening to take her own life. She was armed with a handgun.
As negotiations ensued, a SWAT team arrived.
At about 6:30 p.m., Gentry exited the house with a gun. Pleasants fired 15 rounds from an assault rifle.
The first 13 rounds struck the Sheriff’s Office armored vehicle. The last two hit Gentry.
In a review of the incident, Pleasants said Gentry made eye contact with him and pointed the gun at him.
There was evidence that Gentry was attempting to coax the deputy into shooting her. She could be heard over the negotiator’s recording yelling, “Do it!” at Pleasants, according to court documents.
In her lawsuit, Gentry maintains that no warning was given before Pleasants fired.
Gentry underwent surgery for the gunshot wounds.
After her recovery, she went to court facing a felony charge of assault on a peace officer. She pleaded not guilty and received deferred prosecution in December 2014.
Both sides in the lawsuit have requested a jury trial.
The civil lawsuit will be heard in U.S. District Court in Missoula.
A pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 9.
Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.