Massive manhunt seeks Montana murder suspect
HELENA — Police are searching for a man charged in a Great Falls homicide who may be wandering armed and barefoot, and possibly cold and hungry, in the hills north of Helena.
Cascade County prosecutors filed a homicide charge Tuesday against Branden Conrad Miesmer, who is accused in the death of a man in Great Falls late Sunday or early Monday. Bail was set at $1.5 million.
Miesmer, 26, is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall, 205 pounds and bald. He was last seen wearing a gray sweat shirt and shorts. He is believed to be armed with a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
A man and a woman told investigators that they had dropped Miesmer off at the house and went to get gas. They heard a gunshot when they returned, according to court records.
They told investigators they were trying to leave when Miesmer jumped in the back of their car, pointed a gun at them and forced them to drive to Helena, where they stopped at a convenience store around 6 a.m. Monday.
According to court records, the clerk called police after the woman was able to tell the clerk that they had been kidnapped. The captives apparently got back in the car with Miesmer but were eventually able to convince him to let them go.
Officers spotted the vehicle Miesmer was driving at the Custer Avenue interchange on Interstate 15 and pursued him to the north of town. He exited at Lincoln Road and at some point damaged the vehicle by hitting a raccoon, said Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.
At an intersection, Miesmer forced a man and two children out of their car. Miesmer drove off but abandoned the vehicle as it was still running near the dam and then fled on foot, Dutton said.
Police said Miesmer’s flip-flops were found near the base of a very steep hill. Temperatures dropped to about 40 degrees Monday night.
“The topography is not that inviting,” Dutton said.
Miesmer was suspected of being under the influence of some type of drug, Dutton said.
The man was under investigation for drug trafficking, Cascade County Attorney John Parker said in his affidavit, and the unnamed victim was believed to be been involved in the sale of illegal drugs as well. According to the latest charging documents, the victim was shot once in the head and a .45 caliber casing, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia were found nearby.
Searchers from several agencies along with helicopters with infrared sensors continued searching for Miesmer on Tuesday. One of the helicopters is the Two Bear Air helicopter from the Flathead Valley.
About 50 officers manned roadblocks at every street coming south out of the hills toward Lincoln Road, between Hauser Dam Road and Interstate 15.
Dutton said Tuesday’s search would include officers going door-to-door to make sure Miesmer hasn’t found a place to hide.
The neighborhoods haven’t been evacuated, Dutton said, because “the more eyes, the better.” However, he cautioned residents to lock their doors and windows, keep their children inside and drive with their doors locked and windows up. He also asked residents to lock their vehicles and not leave keys inside.
“He needs food. He needs clothing,” Dutton said.