Farmer Surrenders, Ends 2-Day Standoff Confrontation Escalated To Burning Of Courthouse, Jail

Fugitive farmer George Coon made a negotiated surrender to Custer County Sheriff Tony Harbaugh here early Saturday morning.

The surrender ended a manhunt that began Wednesday with a confrontation at Coon’s house west of Terry, 35 southeast of Miles City in neighboring Prairie County. It mushroomed Friday after he allegedly set fire to the Prairie County sheriff’s office, jail and courthouse in Terry.

A friend of Coon’s persuaded him to give himself up and acted as a go-between, both in telephone negotiations and when Coon and Harbaugh met about 2 a.m., Harbaugh said.

“I think Mr. Coon had some time to evaluate his situation, and I think he just wanted it to end safely, as well,” he added.

Coon was unarmed when he met the sheriff, but Harbaugh said he arranged to collect Coon’s weapons later.

The farmer was charged only with felony assault in connection with the confrontation at his house on Wednesday, Harbaugh said.

Prairie County officials had not decided on charges regarding the fire at the courthouse.

Coon, 49, was accused of holding Prairie County Sheriff Tom Bruski and Undersheriff Dion Steinley at gunpoint on Wednesday when they tried to serve legal papers.

Police and sheriff’s officers from nearby counties later surrounded the house, but could not establish communication with Coon. A special team from Yellowstone County finally burst into the house only to find that Coon was gone.

Sheriff’s dispatcher Pat Tusler said Coon appeared at the sheriff’s office about 12:30 a.m. Friday, carrying a shotgun and a 2-1/2 gallon can of gasoline.

“He said he was going to ‘torch the damn building,”’ she said.

Coon allowed her to release the only prisoner in the jail, then ordered them to leave.

Deputy State Fire Marshall Jerry Smith estimated damage to the turn-of-the-century building at $40,000 to $50,000.

County Attorney Dale Hubber said Bruski and Steinley went to Coon’s house Wednesday to serve him with a notice to appear in court for a domestic abuse case and to tell him that a restraining order in a divorce case was still in effect and that he had to leave the house.

Before the officers could state their business, Hubber said, Coon pointed a semiautomatic rifle at them and forced them to their knees, then ordered them to leave.