Billings, Mont. (AP) A North Dakota man who was shot by a Montana police officer is recovering at a Billings hospital and the officer is on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.
59-year-old Michael Frederick Smith of Bismarck, North Dakota, was listed in fair condition at St. Vincent Healthcare on Wednesday.
Richland County Sheriff Brad Baisch says Smith was shot shortly after 12:30 a.m. on October 31st by Sidney Police Officer Vincent Horton, who had responded to a report that a sport utility vehicle was parked in the northbound traffic lane of Highway 16 with its lights off.
As Horton waited for a Montana Highway Patrol officer to arrive smith got out of the vehicle, ignored commands to show his hands and pulled a gun on the officer.
Baisch says smith was shot in both arms.