In brief: Official cited for punching man

HELENA – The deputy director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has been cited with misdemeanor assault after police say he punched a man who made a derogatory comment about a woman accompanying the deputy director.

Helena police said 44-year-old Mike Volesky punched a 36-year-old man in the jaw Thursday evening at the Downtown Walking Mall near the Big Dipper ice cream store.

Helena Assistant Police Chief Steve Hagen said the 36-year-old declined medical treatment at the scene.

Volesky left the scene, Hagen said, but was later interviewed by police over the phone.

Hagen said that when Volesky learned of the citation he voluntarily went Friday to the Law Enforcement Center to receive the citation.

Quakes shake area near volcano

Three earthquakes rattled an area northwest of Mount St. Helens on Friday, continuing what geologists say is a mini-swarm of earthquakes not related to the nearby volcano.

The latest quakes were a 3.7-magnitude quake at 2:38 p.m. Friday, followed by a 3.4 at 6:08 and a 3.1 at 6:12 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

A report from the USGS said the quakes have been centered about 13 miles northwest of Mount St. Helens at a depth of about 8 miles. They were described as tectonic in origin and not directly related to the volcano.

The report said such earthquakes are common in areas around Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. It said another mini-swarm of earthquakes also occurred about 6 miles southwest of Mount Hood.

Volcano-related seismic activity at the two volcanoes themselves were at normal background levels, the USGS said.