Spokane7
50°
June 30, 2011 in Idaho
Deadly Idaho police shooting ruled justified
Mark M. Maykopet, 24, from Butte, collided with a trooper’s patrol car during a chase, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.
(Full-size photo)
An Idaho State Police trooper who shot a fugitive to death during a pursuit north of Coeur d’Alene in February will not face charges.
Trooper Dan Howard was justified when he used deadly force to stop a Jeep that was approaching him after he exited his police car following a collision, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.
Howard fired several shots, six of which hit the Jeep. Investigators believe he was aiming at the driver of the Jeep, Mark M. Maykopet, a fugitive from Butte, but one of the shots hit Maykopet’s wife, 40-year-old Christie Ann Little, alias O’Leary, who also was a fugitive.
Little, who was wanted for federal probation violations, was breathing when medics arrived on scene but soon died of her gunshot wound.
Maykopet, 25, suffered only minor injuries after being grazed by a bullet.
Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Shawna Dunn said Little’s seat was slightly reclined, which led to her being shot even though bullet holes on the Jeep showed Howard was aiming at Maykopet in the driver’s seat.
“Her seat was basically in the line of fire between the trooper and the driver,” Dunn said.
Dunn said the decision hinged on the “reasonableness standard” - did Howard reasonably believe his life was in danger and was deadly force his only option?
Maykopet, alias Mark Macy, told investigators he did not know where Howard was when he quickly reversed the Jeep and said he did not intend to hit him, rather he was trying to turn around to flee the scene.
Maykopet told police “that he expected the Trooper to get out of his way and that he intended to continue to flee from the encounter,” according to a report issued Thursday.
In a letter to The Spokesman-Review, Maykopet asks of Howard: “Why did you shoot us in the heads while we were driving away from you. That’s not protocol.”
But Howard told Kootenai County sheriff’s Sgt. Brad Maskell that he believed Maykopet was trying to run him over after first ramming his patrol car.
Ada County prosecutors believe the risk the Jeep posed to Howard justified the use of deadly force.
“That one of those shots struck and killed Ms. Little is regrettable and a tragedy for her family,” according to the report. “However, in light of the risk the vehicle posed to Trooper Howard and other officers responding to the scene, the shooting was justified.”
Kootenai County prosecutors sent the case to Ada County for review because they will be handling the criminal case against Maykopet, who is in custody in Montana on Department of Corrections charges.
Howard did not agree to an interview with investigators until four weeks after the fatal shooting, but prosecutors say he was consistent with a brief statement the night of the incident in which he told a sheriff’s deputy that the other car “rammed my car and then they were coming back at me.”
Howard had stopped Maykopet on U.S. Highway 95 for speeding. He smelled marijuana and learned Maykopet had an escape warrant for his arrest in Montana, so he waited for another officer to arrive before reapproaching the vehicle. Howard didn’t immediately know Little was a fugitive because she provided a different name.
Cpl. Sean Lind arrived and he and Howard asked Mayokpet to step out of the Jeep, but he instead drove away, running at least one stop sign and reaching speeds of nearly 100 mph.
Howard followed Maykopet onto Ramsey Road as Lind took another route to try to get in front of the Jeep.
Howard’s airbag deployed after the Jeep struck his patrol car, and he was concerned about being visible in the headlights of the Jeep so he left the patrol car and ran to the northbound lane hoping to escape injury. That’s when he saw the Jeep drive in reverse toward him and he fired his gun several times.
Mayokpet stopped after realizing Little had been hit.
Police found two firearms in the Jeep. Both Maykopet and Little had felony convictions that prohibited them from possessing guns.
Human trafficking suspects released 
Squid on June 30 at 1:03 p.m.
Soooo….. Police are allowed to shoot at passengers when they haven’t identified who that passenger is?
She had nothing to do with the fugitive or his alleged assault on the officer. What if it was a little girl or just someone getting a ride? What if there were several people, including kids, in the rig?
Seems a little better that it was just his wife that had a criminal record, or that he had assault weapons that were out of their reach and never used? But, they didn’t know that when they opened fire.
Now the police can shoot anyone and justify it. Just another way to increase their immunity to rules and laws.
Maybe cops need more time at the shooting range? Pretty darn sloppy. No excuse for these results.
For the love of God, please make the cops accountable for something. If we weren’t used to all of this, it would almost seem funny.
In any other job, you would be disciplined or fired for doing a poor job.
force_vector on June 30 at 1:20 p.m.
“For the love of God, please make the cops accountable for something”
Squid - This is a lesson in personal accountability for who you choose to associate with. If you hang out with someone who is a fugitive, and that person then decides to attempt to run a cop over with a car you are also riding in, then you shouldn’t be surprised when you become part of the situation simply by being there. Nor should you have any reason to claim victim if you were there on your own free will.
deerbandit on June 30 at 1:34 p.m.
Squid when was the last time you were in a shootout, oh thats right never. You armchair quarterback after its over. Facts are scumbag Maykopet with his new wife who happened to be a federal fugitive decide to run over a cop. The State Trooper defends himself and you are going to judge the Trooper. All Maykopet had to do was surrender. Did you know squid that there were 2 guns in Maykopets vehicle. If you read the previous articles you would know that. They are both convicted felons and they should not have had guns. What do you think they were going to do with them, sell the bullets and make planters out of them. This State Trooper put his life on the line and you are going to side with the Felons. No wonder this Country is going to hell because of people like you who blame others who try to make a difference, not the idiots who should be held responsible for their actions.
Kivaari on June 30 at 1:39 p.m.
Squid, She was an escapee as well. A convicted felon. The guns were in the vehicle within reach of the occupants. The pistol and machinegun were both unlawfully posessed. She was a guilty and a co-conspirator in the criminal acts. both knew it was illegal to be escapees, to be felons in posession of firearms, including a NFA weapon. It is too bad the officer had to shoot. It isn’t too bad that he hit both.
Kivaari on June 30 at 1:42 p.m.
Squid, She was an escapee as well. A convicted felon. The guns were in the vehicle within reach of the occupants. The pistol and machinegun were both unlawfully posessed. She was as guilty as her husband and was a willing co-conspirator in the criminal acts. Both knew it was illegal to be escapees, to be felons in posession of firearms, including a NFA weapon. It is too bad the officer had to shoot. It isn’t too bad that he hit both. Better shooting next time.
greenlibertarian on June 30 at 1:48 p.m.
There is no evidence the cop was trying to shoot the passenger, he was trying to shoot the driver and a stray round hit the passenger.
From the available evidence, it was a “good” shoot.
Those who bash law enforcement for EVERY shooting, including the valid ones, are NOT HELPFUL to the cause of holding law enforcement accountable for QUESTIONABLE or BAD shootings.
Squid on June 30 at 1:51 p.m.
I guaran dam tee that I can shoot better than this guy. As far as it being a shootout, there was only one person shooting. One shooter does not a shootout make.
If you read my post, you would see that I mentioned the guns. Maybe I read and know more than you.
If Maykopet was driving away, then the officer was no longer defending himself, and it became revenge. There is nothing but pasture, CRP, and wheat fields in that area, so the danger to others was minimal.
It should never be acceptable to execute someone, just because they are associated with a dangerous person. That’s just stupid. That would justify executing children, relatives, and good, honest, law abiding people, and this chick who had nothing to do with the alleged assault.
I would have no problem with this shooting if the officer had better aim, or the chick was shooting at him. She did nothing.
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Unacceptable.
Squid on June 30 at 1:56 p.m.
It was not a stray bullet. The cop pointed and pulled the trigger. He didn’t aim.
There’s a pointy thing on the end of the barrel, and a groovy thing at the butt of the barrel. They are there for a reason.
If an officer lets his adrenaline screw u his aim, he shouldn’t be allowed to carry a gun.
force_vector on June 30 at 2:13 p.m.
This shooting was hardly an execution. The officer was attempting to avoid being run over while at the same time firing shots at the vehicle to end the threat to his life. What’s the separation between passenger and driver seat? Like 3 feet? Considering the circumstances he was under, not a bad grouping in my opinion. Also, your reference to children misses the point. Kids have no say in what adults they associate with, but adults do. This woman was no peach, no child, and certainly no victim. I have been highly critical of police incidents in the Spokane area. There have been situations that are an outright affront to justice and police accountability. This, however, was not one of them.
fishinjay on June 30 at 2:17 p.m.
Don’t feed the troll.
deerbandit on June 30 at 2:36 p.m.
Again squid he tried to run the State Trooper over, the Trooper has the right to defend himself. It sounds to me like you might be related to one of them, or why else would you defend them since they are in the wrong. And as far as you saying you could shoot better than the Trooper I really doubt that. I think if someone tried to run you over and you felt your life was in danger you would be high tailing it the other way. Because he is a State Trooper (certified Law Enforcement Officer) he has no duty to retreat. If he did you would probably say he was a coward, espescially if they hurt someone else. I commend him, but at the same time I feel sorry for him because he has to live with the fact that he took another persons life. I believe Maykopet should be charged in Idaho with her death because again he was in the commission of a felony when he tried to run the Trooper over, and the Trooper shot and killed Little. Dont defend Felons, it trivializes and makes everything you say meaningless.
terrymr on June 30 at 3:19 p.m.
Shooting at a vehicle that’s coming towards you is a really good way to get run over. If you miss it’s still coming at you, if you hit it’s still coming at you.
force_vector on June 30 at 3:25 p.m.
Sorry terrymyr, bit every movie I’ve ever seen where a vehicle was shot ends in the vehicle violently exploding while flying harmlessly a minimum of 10 feet over your head. Based on my netflix research, your logic is flawed.
Squid on June 30 at 3:53 p.m.
I guess you guys missed my point… The officer had no idea who the chick was before he shot. Could have been anyone, but lucky for them, it turned out that she had a warrant and criminal record.
The cop had no idea who she was, or that they had assault weapons.
If you can’t group better than 3 feet, you shouldn’t be allowed to be an officer. With the right pistol, I can have groups of less than 2 inches at 30 yards. Let’s go shoot, if you don’t believe me.
I used to shoot 50 foot .22 cal competition, back in the old days. Got up to Expert 1st class and won many trophies. I am an avid hunter and hit what I aim at. I don’t just point and pull the trigger, unless I have a shotgun.
Yes, I can shoot better than this guy. No doubt about it.
Kivarri, since when was this chick an escapee? She never escaped from anything. She had warrants.
Kivaari on June 30 at 3:53 p.m.
terrymr, If he fired through the passenger side window and rear window, he had time to move to the side. Then he fired to stop the continuing threat to others. A shooting that falls within the Garner v. Tenn. ruling. If you are shielded from impact shooting through the front can work. But shooting at any moving vehicle, is very dangerous and is NORMALLY not an approved method to stop a criminal. Many departments have policies restricting shooting at or into vehicles. Since the suspect led them on a high speed chase, and rammed the patrol car once, and was making another attempt, it was a valid reason to fire.
No tears worth shedding here, move along.
Kivaari on June 30 at 3:58 p.m.
She left the detention facility and was a fugitive from justice. A non-compliant person that leaves community corrections is an escapee/fugitive. She had poor tastes in men. She should not have been where she was, in a vehicle tagged as a wanted vehicle, with a dipstick, with guns and I see no reason to be too concerned for her well being.
The pair were fugitives. The driver assaulted the officer. The driver with his willing passenger was involved in a 100 mph chase.
I have no sympathy for people that place themselves into such situations.
Kivaari on June 30 at 4:04 p.m.
Squid, Shooting 50 foot rimfire matches has exactly nothing to do with shooting a combat pistol in a moving environment. The sights are dissimilar. The target is lighted. The positions are assumed with ease. Rifle shooting or traditional bullseye pistol craft is totally unlike combat shooting. I would like to see how you do in an IDPA match or a serious police qualification course at night with a real service pistol.
force_vector on June 30 at 4:04 p.m.
“With the right pistol, I can have groups of less than 2 inches at 30 yards.”
I would love to see you pull this off while moving to avoid a vehicle. Shooting a .22 from a bench rest is one thing. Shooting 2” groupings at 30 yards from, say a .45, at the range is another. But in a real-world, real-consequence scenario, shooting what is the approximate of 1 moa rifle would be impressive in my book.
Squid on June 30 at 4:14 p.m.
Oh…. So shooting deer, elk coyotes, pheasants, ducks, and geese doesn’t count as moving targets? If you can hit a coyote at a run at over 100 yards, I think it would qualify.
I would like to see how I’d do on the copper course too. Bet I’d smoke em all.
By the way…. Hate to brag, but at Laser Quest in Portland, I held the record for three straight years for accuracy, but I am aware that doesn’t count either. Just saying that I can out shoot this guy any day.
Squid on June 30 at 4:17 p.m.
A bench rest is one out of four positions you have to shoot to get an expert badge at 50 foot rimfire.
You also have to shoot prone, sitting, and standing.
Bench rest is BY FAR the easiest position and is almost boring.
force_vector on June 30 at 4:21 p.m.
I would love to see you hit a coyote on the run with your pistol at 100 yards. Rifles and handguns are apples and oranges in terms of accuracy. I only mentioned rifle moa as a reference of skill required to shoot moa with a rifle.
I consider myself a pretty good shot, and I practice a lot. However, I would never make the claim to be able to “out shoot” any guy unless I had actually done so.
I’m not intentionally giving you a hard time, I just think your critique of this officers shooting abilities are unjustified.
Squid on June 30 at 4:43 p.m.
Ummm… I did out shoot all but one cop in Portland. I shot at the same range they did every weekend when the weather permitted.
The only cop who could out shoot me used a H-bar with a mil dot scope and had groups of less than 1 inch at 100 yards. I shot a regular old 7mm Mag with crosshairs, and could probably come pretty close to beating him if I had a target rifle. I was actually amazed that an H-bar could shoot that tight of groups, after shooting several M-16’s and AR 15’s, and they are far from capable of any decent groups.
Most of the cops shot at human silhouettes and were happy to hit paper at 25 yards. At 25 yards, I can smoke any cop with a decent pistol. Of course I shoot revolvers, which are usually much more accurate than an auto, unless the auto has a lot of work done to it.
No bragging… Just being honest and know my capabilities.
Squid on June 30 at 4:45 p.m.
By the way, I have never seen any pistol or any open sight weapon capable of shooting a running coyote at 100 yards, unless you are just plain lucky. They lope when they run. Too bouncy for open sights at that yardage.
Kivaari on June 30 at 5:21 p.m.
Squid, Handguns, and I understand that this officer used a Glock M21 in .45 ACP, has nothing in common with shooting rifles. Some cops can’t shoot. Most older cops were “gun people” and normally shot very well. A modern combat pistol fired in haste, in the dark, at REAL people tests more then your ability to shoot paper targets in the peaceful confines of a range or hunting field.
Traditional bullseye shooting, other then learning the sight picture, is unlike the real world. When I went through the academy in 1971 we had to teach our instructors from the FBI how to shoot in the modern age. They were using 1930’s style shooting that just cannot deliver the hits needed. Since then the demands on MOST officers has increased. Unfortunately, too many of the young cops are not “gun people” and spend nearly no time on the range. Departments hate spending money for training, including ammo and wages. Many only train in good weather and daylight conditions. We trained and qualified monthly in all conditions of light and weather. Unless trained in combat shooting, most traditional target shooters do not do well, running, moving shooting from various positions and with both hands. We expended about 300 rounds per month with handguns. We spent time with our SMG’s (800-1000 round initial qualification) and rifles. Our shotguns were relegated to the trunk and carried with rubber baton loads. Using your revolver in the time frame and multiple target conditions will tell us more then single action shooting at paper. There are not a huge number of highly trained revolver shooters anymore. When I was on a Clinton security event we had about 400 cops there and only one elected sheriff was seen with a M66 revolver. They make good back up guns, but in this day and age, it pays to have the capacity and ease of reloading found in a Glock-type pistol.
Kivaari on June 30 at 5:37 p.m.
Squid, “Benchrest is one of the 4 positions”? Not in any 50’ match I ever saw. Standing, kneeling, sitting and prone. Bench shooting is it’s own sport. It is also used to zero weapons. It isn’t part of .22 LR heavy target rifle competition. I call a major BS.
You fall back relating stories of rifle use in Portland. Benching a hunting rifle or an AR15, has nothing to do with pistol shooting in a hostile environment. Just adding stress to a shooting, in the real world, shows most men lose about 50% of their skills. In some cases things are going so fast that sights don’t even come into use, regardless of people saying always watch the front sight.
Squid on June 30 at 5:41 p.m.
The problem is that there are too many rounds. It’s much better to make the six you have, count. You should only need ONE.
Spraying a bunch of rounds all over the place is negligent and sloppy, like this story and the shooting by Joe Albi.
Knowing your clip has 9 or 10 rounds and you can pop another clip in when those are gone makes a careless and sloppy shooter.
Maybe if you want cheap training, give the cops a bucket of .22’s for starters. You master a .22, then move up to your 9mm or .45. (Didn’t know cops were allowed to carry .45’s.) Not really much of a difference between a .22 and a 9mm, except the cost of ammo and a little kick.
By the way, I do shoot pistols too. Used to anyway. Not sure where you got the idea that I only shoot target rifles and hunting rifles.
Another thing…. Deer only come out when the sun goes down, so pretty much every deer I have ever shot has been in low light. Either when the sun comes up or goes down. Yes, I only shoot during legal hours, and the legal hours usually end past when you can safely see clearly.
Squid on June 30 at 6:23 p.m.
When I shot competition, there was a piece of plywood that was hinged, and had a hook on it to keep it up. You fold the plywood down, wrap the sling around your left arm, and shoot five rounds with both elbows resting on the plywood. I called it bench, but I think the real name for that position is called off hand. Don’t remember if that’s the correct name for that position or not. It wasn’t the kind of bench rest you are thinking of, with a sandbag, chair, and spotting scope.
You then shoot five rounds in the prone position, and then five from the sitting position, and then five from the standing position.
Standing was by far the hardest. The bench, or whatever it’s called was easiest.
This was many many years ago, and a bad ass Marine, named Richard “Pappy” Raines was my coach. That was here in Spokane.
lowtechmaster on June 30 at 7:13 p.m.
Why didn’t the officer try to disable the car with his fire, rather than risk the lives of the people in the car as well as his own by shooting at them?? If he had hid the driver, the vehicle, most likely, would have continued toward him, possibly at an ever faster rate!
Where was the OTHER officer during all this???
lowtechmaster on June 30 at 7:15 p.m.
Can anyone tell me when the last time an officer in the Pacific Northwest killed someone and it was ruled NOT JUSTIFIED??
crazyivan44 on June 30 at 7:30 p.m.
lowtechmaster: Howard followed Maykopet onto Ramsey Road as Lind took another route to try to get in front of the Jeep.
He was trying to flank which would have taken several minutes in that area, so I would surmise he had not quite caught up to them yet.
squid: I’m glad that you hold your mad skills in high esteem and are no doubt a modern day Wyatt Earp. The problem is you were probably asleep when Trooper Howard was working in the pitch black with chaos around him and adrenaline pumping through his body as he made rapid decisions. Whether the passenger had a criminal record or not is irrelevant. This courageous Trooper protected his life and protected the rest of us from some nut bag fugitive. You can arm chair that however you want. I’ll counter your arrogance and say I’d put $500 cash that in the same situation you couldn’t hit the car once because knowing how to shoot paper targets and coyotes has absolutely nothing to do with firing on a human being driving a lethal weapon that you perceive as a threat to your safety. If you want to prove your point then man up and go become a police officer and show what you are made of.
Kivaari on June 30 at 7:39 p.m.
Squid, I can see from your answers you are not a shooter. Your description of the plywood rest isn’t part of a match, nor is it bench rest shooting. You didn’t know cops used .45’s? Cops have used .45 caliber pistols/revolvers since the Civil War. A M1860 Army even though called a .44, was in fact a .454. The US Army issued the M1873 SAA revolver, and it was the number one police gun of the west. The M1909, M1911, Model’s 1917, M1911A1 were and some continue to be popular police handguns. ISP issues either .40 or .45 Glocks. Hirzel used a Glock M21 as well. Saying that shooting a .22 is the same as or nearly the same as a 9mm is a joke. The recoil impulse is quite different. Saying one or even a few shots is enough is very naive. Pistols are very hard to kill with. Often multiple wounds will not only NOT kill, but will often not stop a person. Firing through auto-glass decreases the performance. The glass can deflect a bullet or even stop a bullet from continuing on. A windshield in most cars will often stop a .45 ACP bullet. At the correct angle of incidence a pistol bullet can be deflected. It is highly probable that the officers shots were well placed, and after hitting the glass were deflected 20-40 degrees from point of aim and initial impact. The most popular police handgun cartridge in use today is the
.40 S&W (10mm) fired in a Glock, H&K or S&W. The 9mm is easier to shoot then a .40 or .45 due to less recoil. The time off target due to muzzle flip slows the rate of fire for most. Having 12-17 rounds available is a good thing. Going up against multiple bad guys, or a person armed with a high-cap auto loader leaves officers at a huge disadvantage if they are packing a revolver. We carried FIVE guns on our person or in the patrol car. Two handguns (Glock M17 and S&W M642), a SMG or AR15, M870 shotgun and a .22 rifle. We had to train with all of them.
Kivaari on June 30 at 7:43 p.m.
Low tech, The WSP trooper shot the woman negligently. It was not an excusable or justified shooting.
Kivaari on June 30 at 7:45 p.m.
Crazyivan, Good comments.
crazyivan44 on June 30 at 7:53 p.m.
Same to you Kivaari. Happy 4th.
Squid on June 30 at 8:12 p.m.
$500 against your life…. Deal. Come try to run me over. Been a long time since I’ve made the news.
Kivarri, I really tried to read your post, but couldn’t get past the first few sentences. Blah blah blah. I really have nothing to prove to you, but the way I described it, is the way it was and what I did.
I will tell you this: I earned my 9 Sharpshooter bars and then it seemed forever to get my Expert 1st class badge. There are two more Expert badges after the first one, but I didn’t stick with it long enough. Been there, done that. No lies. It is just one of my accomplishments, and it was fun, but it matters not to me any more. Kinda wish I still had my shooting jacket with the badges, but I have no idea where that went. I believe I was 15 years old when I quit. Don’t care much about it any more.
You know I’m a shooter and you’re just trying to get under my skin. Proving anything to some disabled former cop is about the last thing on my list of things to do, so….. Whatever, I’m just another liar, right? Everyone is a liar, right? Except you. Oh wait…. You were a cop, so you were paid to lie. Pro class liar, of sorts.
You keep on with your virtual and past life, and I’ll go on with my real and present life. Not going to argue about this trivial stuff with a has been. No point in it.
force_vector on June 30 at 8:31 p.m.
Sorry Squid, but Kivaari is saying the exact same thing that I’ve been implying: shooting under adverse conditions, whether with rifle or pistol, is challenging no matter your skill level. Shooting paper targets with your .22, or earning marksman badges when you were 15 doesn’t count with respect to having an opinion as to the marksmanship of an officer shooting at a human being who he believed was attempting to take his life with a vehicle. I believe he made the right call to open fire, and nothing from the results of his fire says he’s a bad shot. This argument, you lose.
crazyivan44 on June 30 at 8:35 p.m.
I challenged you to put yourself in those shoes and that turned into a desire of yours to bring harm to me? Really?? And the cops are the ones with a problem? It couldn’t be that you just like to talk tough and shoot your mouth off could it? There is a simple rule in life, if you brag as much as you are in this one post then none of it is true, period.
Why are you trashing Kivaari, because you wanted to be a cop and didn’t have what it took? You got called out an exposed as a liar, have some class and walk away from the argument. And keep your threats to yourself.
Kivaari on June 30 at 9:03 p.m.
Squid, Shooting in the boy scouts or at summer camp is nothing like police combat shooting. You have confirmed your qualifications to all of us. You are without a doubt clueless. You last shot “competition” at age 15, with a .22 target rifle. That leaves you seriously under trained and without standing to judge this officer. Between my service in the Navy, Army and police departments and shooting as a civilian I can’t even guess at how many hundreds of thousands of rounds I have fired in training.
Recently, I competed in a combat match and found that I can still shoot, I just can’t move like a 19 year old anymore.
OSOK only works sometimes, and that is at the end of a snipers rifle.
Squid on June 30 at 9:36 p.m.
Kivaari, take me shooting. Lets go to the range in Mica. Whadda ya say?
Farce Vector, nothing.
CrazyIvan, who threatened who? You made a bet, I accepted your challenge, weirdo. Apparently your head is cross threaded on.
Kivaari???
greenlibertarian on June 30 at 9:44 p.m.
“There is a simple rule in life, if you brag as much as you are in this one post then none of it is true, period.”
That’s for damn sure. Well said.
crazyivan44 on June 30 at 9:52 p.m.
Me: “I’ll counter your arrogance and say I’d put $500 cash that in the same situation you couldn’t hit the car once because knowing how to shoot paper targets and coyotes has absolutely nothing to do with firing on a human being driving a lethal weapon that you perceive as a threat to your safety.”
You: “$500 against your life…. Deal. Come try to run me over. Been a long time since I’ve made the news.”
You threatened me. Period.
Squid on June 30 at 10:22 p.m.
Well Ivan, one of us has to drive the car, and one of has to shoot in this wager….. Unless you can find someone else goofy enough to drive the car, while I shoot at it. How else were you going to make the bet? Sounded like a fun bet and reenactment… Oh well.
Green and Weird Ivan, it’s not bragging if you are being called out. I didn’t really just put my accomplishments out there, just for the heck of it. I was asked why I thought I could shoot better than this pot shot cop, and I told you why. Part of what I told you was my competitive shooting. I never gave any specific information on anything, other than I inferred that I shot a coyote on the run at 100 yards. Mighta been bragging a little, on that one.
Some people have not just let life pass them by. I have done a lot of great things and earned many trophies from many different events and sports.
force_vector on June 30 at 10:37 p.m.
I was a designated handgun marksman and rifle expert in the military, both range as well as tactical and judgmental. I wasn’t awarded any trophies for either of those accomplishments, and I don’t make $500 wagers against any one’s life. I also shoot sub moa with both 7.62 and 5.56, yet don’t assume to be able to shoot better than anyone else whom I haven’t seen in an actual course. Some people let life “pass them by” without them making a jacka$$ out of themselves. You are apparently not one of them.
Squid on June 30 at 11:00 p.m.
I didn’t make the wager. I accepted the challenge. You goofball Liberals seem to turn things around to look whatever way makes it look like you’re a victim.
You have apparently had accomplishments too, but it’s not bragging when you post what you’ve done, right? Just when someone else does it. Specifically, just me, or anyone you disagree with.
I understand now.
By the way… Only my family and a few friends know about my competition shooting, and I can’t recall ever mentioning it to anyone else, until today, so I must not be too much of a braggart. Really, my whole point that still hasn’t sunk in to your heads is that this cop is a bad shot and sloppy. It was never meant to be bragging. Just pointing out that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to being able to aim a gun and not hit the wrong person. Pretty simple, but it keeps going over your heads.
Kivaari, when are we going shooting? Sounded like a fun idea to me. I ain’t gonna hurt ya, little fella…. Promise. Let’s go have some fun.
crazyivan44 on June 30 at 11:04 p.m.
Now we’re liberals? LOL
I’ve had my amusement for the evening, g’night all.
force_vector on June 30 at 11:15 p.m.
me too. later ivan.
Sadbuttrue on July 01 at 6:45 a.m.
I don’t believe a single word this cop says about this incident, and neither should you.
This is an ISP cop, who is employed by an organization that harbors and protects officer Fred Rice from criminal and disciplinary action, even after the Idaho Supreme Court furiously denounced the monster’s blatant in-court perjury in the Ellington murder case. He remains on paid “administrative leave” while the ISP slowly “investigates” the matter (after the Idaho Supreme Court already did all the investigation that needs done). Meanwhile, poor Mr. Ellington has already spent 6 years in jail as a result of Rice’s lying under oath.
The ISP is an organization without any credibility whatsoever. The Ellington perjury allegations against Rice are not even a close call. No further foot-dragging, white-washing “investigation” needs doing: The “Truth” isn’t “out there.”
Apparently there is no video of this present event either, since cops often claim, again in a bald-faced lie, that they have to spend more than a $1,000 for their video cameras, yet amazingly they still always “malfunction” whenever the cop is caught on camera in misconduct.
Kivaari on July 01 at 5:22 p.m.
Squid, Get serious. This has nothing to do with liberal or conservative views. It has all to do with your ignorance of shooting and your comments regarding this officer. From all you have told us, you are not even a casual shooter of any skill. It is obvious you know nothing of combat shooting from either a technical, legal or practical point of view. Unless you are sandbagging us, with some trolling bait, you don’t have what it takes to compete outside of summer camp.
Combining all of your shooting pro/con comments has informed all of us that you remain clueless.
Kivaari on July 01 at 5:27 p.m.
Sad, A Radio Shack video camera is not adequate for police use. The video storage system must meet forensic standards, and nothing you buy at RS for 30 bucks meets a forensic standard. Nost of the time a police camera shows the truth and supports the officer. From personal experience I know how people will lie about the encounter they have with police. It is so fun to see them shrink back when an audio and visual recording is shown to them. Normally before court, where the miraculously change their plea. Sure, cops screw up, and a video will help.
But an actual investigation will normally tell the truth without need for a camera.
Squid on July 02 at 10:58 a.m.
I guess you’ll never know, if you’re afraid to go shooting with me. Made the offer, and am serious about it. Might just be something fun to do.
I suppose you’re right about me not knowing much about tactical and combat shooting, other than a couple things I have been taught. It’s really something I really don’t care to know about, especially after I have seen what happens to infantry guys when they have to blend back into the real world. I have also known a few cops. They just aren’t right in the head. I honestly don’t want to be one of those guys that can only talk about the details of the best way to kill people and this months’ Soldier of Fortune magazine. Not in the least interesting to me.
You have to admit that no amount of training can be a substitute for common sense, powers of observation, and just plain skills, which I am very fortunate to have. I really don’t need to be programmed, and therefore, will never need to be deprogrammed. You probably wouldn’t understand any of that, though.
My one and only point about this whole story is that this was a sloppy and unprofessional shooting. If you are not able to hit what you aim at, you should not be able to be a cop. Do what it takes to hire officers with skills, common sense, and powers of observation. The officer in this story obviously is lacking in all of these characteristics. You can’t deny that.
Let’s go shooting. Get off your computer and get out in the sun. Might just be fun and we can see what skills each of us has. I’ll make it fun. I’ll bet you my $100 to your $5 that I can hit a quarter at 100 yards. Give me two shots. I won’t even use anything but an ordinary hunting rifle. No bull barrel, no mil dot scope, no sling, no wind speed indicator, or whatever. Then, we can make a bet on speed shooting at targets with a pistol. It’ll be fun, and maybe you can make a couple bucks.
Whadda ya say?
Sadbuttrue on July 04 at 10:46 a.m.
It never ceases to amaze me how truly awful the local cops are, and how down in the gutter they will crawl in order to justify and conceal their jaw-dropping atrocious behavior.
A cop supporter above announced that cops need a $1,000 gold-plated-toilet-seat video camera to be “adequate for forensic purposes.”
Understandably the local police have profoundly excellent reasons to not want to be videotaped in their constant embarrassing and indefensible behavior, but to be caught in a obvious lie in a public forum when the truth is so easily discovered indicates a certain sociopaths brazenness.
Cops around the country, in legitimate police departments who WANT to be videotaped and who have nothing to hide have discovered the solution is only $125:
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=113970&catid=14
Me thinketh the cop protesteth too strongly.
SCREWSTONE on July 06 at 12:03 p.m.
Thankyou to those who see the fact that officer Dan Coward was out of control and seekinng to KILL not defend.Fact is he followed them over 30 miles before the stop that led to the chase FACT THEYWERE ALL HEAD SHOTS.FACT ALL MARK AND CHRISTIE WANTED WAS TO GET AWAY.FACT THE GUNS IN THE BACK OF THE JEEP WERE MINE;LEFT ACCIDENTLY WHEN I TOOK THEIR JEEP SHOOTING EARLIER THAT DAY.Investigators know all this.FACT CHARGES WERE DROPPED TO GET MARK OUT OF IDAHO AND STOP THE DEFENSE INVESTIGATION.Now that they all got their stories together I am sure they will refile.FACT THE WORDS OF MARK WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.FACT THE I.S.P. RAMMED MARK.FACT A MURDERER WAS ALLOWED FOUR MONTHS TO GET HIS STORY STRAIGHT.
Squid on July 06 at 4:31 p.m.
Well now…. Ain’t that interesting? I wonder why the ISP never released this information? Kind of thought something smelled a little fishy.
SCREWSTONE on July 06 at 6:25 p.m.
Thanks, Squid for support I am Marks dad him and Christie had just left our home in Libby Mt. At about 5 pm.I was notified at about 11 pm by someone from the hospital that Christine had expired.But my son was going to be O.K…..THIS took a minute to sink in.I had just spent the day with them taken pictures; and now she is dead and he is in jail? I have been advised to ………..I have already been visitied by A.T.F. and local “DICKS”.and then was arrested myself for 1998 B.S. FACT I went shooting; The day this happened I had several guns ;A 30:6 A 12 gauge A22 cal. A 25 Cal and the Masterpiece Arms ME7900 Ihad just bought that day.IT HAD NEVER BEEN FIRED……..I cant explain myself proper now…THANKS TO ALL WHO CARE P.S. I.S.P. WONT EVEN RELEASE INFO. TO ME. His DAD.
Squid on July 06 at 10:28 p.m.
I’m very sorry for your losses and the stress. There were a lot of questions in my mind about this. Kind of hard to justify shooting at someone who is driving away from the cop. Now, you say that the cop rammed the Jeep. Sounds about right.
I keep saying that it was sloppy, and the cop shouldn’t have fired at the car, (when I believed what the news and police said about your son trying to run over the cop) because Christine was in it. Your story has completely changed my mind, and I believe that the cop rammed the Jeep and let his adrenaline get the best of him.
I have been in trouble for traffic violations, and I know that cops can’t tell the truth. Never saw a cop report that didn’t contain mostly lies and exaggerations. Drama is what gets most convictions. Some deserve it, some don’t.
Hope it turns out in your favor, even though you can’t get Christine back. Sounds like a sweet civil suit though. Just trying to see some blue sky through the clouds.
What was the “fully automatic machine gun?” Was that the ME7900? Was it really fully auto, or were they just being dramatic and flat out lying?????
greenlibertarian on July 07 at 8:41 a.m.
Cuckoo, Cuckoo.
SCREWSTONE on July 07 at 10:53 a.m.
no the gun was not fully auto and I had not yet bought ammo for it.And the next day I went to the place where I bought it to let them know I might need them in court.I have also contacted tons of lawyers and cant find any that are willing to take on the state of Idaho.But I am not giving up. The fact that kootenai co. prosecuter delined and passed the case to Ada county adds to the stink of this.the only way they will silence me ……Well consider this,Mark looks kinda mean in the above picture,he had just gotten staples in the BACK of his head for the gun shot wound.Christie died from being shot in the BACK OF THE HEAD. Their were 14 shots fired the creative writing lies we are being fed cant hold forever someone will trip over their own tounge then the truth that shooting people in the BACK of the head is not self defense.
Squid on July 07 at 1:14 p.m.
Geez! Like I said, the cops just can’t tell the truth and have to use drama to get convictions. If you do go to court, it seems like it would be hard to find a jury that hasn’t heard about this story and already formed an opinion. The cops and the media have told enough lies to plant a seed in the jury’s head of things that never happened and “fully auto machine guns.” Should be a crime to publish all of the lies.
Anyone would look pissed after that day. Bet he still looks pissed. I would.
Once again, I feel for you.
One last question….. Did Mark escape from prison / jail, or did he just have a warrant???? I got the idea that he escaped from somewhere.
SCREWSTONE on July 07 at 2:28 p.m.
Thanks again squid for comments ,Mark was a “walk away”;from Butte pre-release for a marijuana conviction : But as can be researched thru The Daily Interlake prior to his troubles an article written by Cheryl Sabol shows his true character. in 2006-07 HE CHASED DOWN A PURSE SNATCHER WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE A GUN. THE ARTICLE WAS TITLED: BOX BOY HERO HONORED BY COPS besides acitezenship award from the city of Kalispell He also received a letter of commendation from a montana senator.I no longer have this document but do have copies of the box-boy hero article which I did send to investigators prior to them dropping charges so he could be sent back here to MT.I wish now I had waited longer ; and only contacted the public pretenders office.THEY KNEW the only way to clear the cop was to get rid of Mark.Now THEY must build a case against me ..watch..fabricate,fabricate,fabricate
Squid on July 07 at 2:52 p.m.
Pre freakin Release???? Mark made a stupid mistake to walk away, but man, oh man…… The media and cops painted him to look like he was a serious threat to society. Can’t believe anything you read these days. I am never surprised about his kind of thing.
Mark sounds like a decent guy who has made a couple mistakes. The cops in this case, are more of a threat and have done way more damage than any of those involved. One murdered wife, and several lives that will take years to get back to normal.
I chased and caught a couple armed robbers who took wallets from a couple kids with a friend of mine back in the late ‘80’s, and I got the same “Honorable Citizen Award” from the City of Spokane Mayor’s office. Had an article in the paper too. Pissed the cops off to no end, and the stalked me and gave me traffic tickets for nearly a year, till I sold my car and moved to Portland. I guess it made them look bad, somehow. No good deed goes unpunished, and it doesn’t pay to help. I’d do it again in a second, though.
Best wishes to you and Mark. What charges are they threatening you with?
SCREWSTONE on July 07 at 3:46 p.m.
Sad FACT I went shooting I had 7 guns in a baseball equipment bag.Let me say this first I have taught all my kids THE REAL POWER of REAL weapons because video games unavoidable. And ignorance is deadly.Marks little brother Isaac and him have shot an AK47 together many times along with many other guns. That being said I was negligent in not putting my guns away IMMEDIATELY when I got home as I have taught my kids.Broken down and cleaned after every use! So the fact that the guns were there just made a murder JUSTIFIED. So to answer your question;I expect to be charged with provideing guns to a felon.FACT is when I told the A.T.F. what I just told you he called me a liar.But he left and my house is CLEAN because I know THEY will be back.Keep talking to me Squid theres alot who will.We all make mistakes.
Squid on July 08 at 8:06 p.m.
I’m more than happy to talk to you, but I ran out of questions. I’m also a little nervous to ask you some things, if you should decide to sue somebody. Might not help your case if you give an answer that could screw things up for you.
My thoughts are that you couldn’t be charged with providing guns to a felon. I think they would have to prove that Mark knew the guns were in the Jeep, and that you had an understanding with Mark about the guns being in his possession. Hard to prove that.
Looks to me like the cops are just trying to figure out how to keep themselves out of hot water by all the lies and politics. I know there are many people who are less than happy with the police in our area, and the police don’t want it to spread.