GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls Police Department recently shared some information about several recent incidents and investigations.
So far this year the GFPD has responded to 6,248 calls for service. Here are a few highlights of several calls they recently responded to:
🚓 Officers searched frantically for an 8 year old child who did not arrive at home after school. The child was eventually found at a store several blocks from home after a store clerk called to report they had a child there that appeared to be too young to be alone.
🚓 Officers investigated after 911 dispatchers received a call with a small child screaming “mama”. Officers contacted the child’s mother who reported the 4 year old child accidentally dialed 911 as mom was using tweezers to remove a splinter from the child’s foot.
🚓 Officers intervened during a domestic dispute after an intoxicated boyfriend called to report his girlfriend had illegally parked her car in front of their residence. When officers spoke to the boyfriend he insisted they follow through with citing the girlfriend. The officer told the boyfriend they were not going to do that, since the girlfriend had already re-parked the vehicle legally. The boyfriend became belligerent and insisted. The officer ended the dispute by writing the boyfriend a citation for having his vehicle parked with a rear tire on the curb.
🚓 Officers investigated a suspicious package that was delivered to a local business. The package contained 2 empty liquor bottles, wicks, and brass hardware. Once police arrived a coworker confessed to sending the package as a joke.
🚓 An officer observed a community member doing push-ups in the middle of the road. When the officer contacted the highly intoxicated person they took their pants off and yelled at the officer. The subject was arrested on an outstanding warrant and taken to the Cascade County Sheriff/Coroner's Office Adult Detention Center.
🚓 Officers arrested a patient at a medical facility after the patient started smoking cigarettes in the hospital room and throwing bottles of urine, and other items, at staff members.
In addition, officers have responded this year to 10 suicide attempts and 2 confirmed suicides, and provided the following information:
- Officers have responded to community members who have cut their own throat, ingested pills, stabbed themselves, shot themselves, asphyxiated themselves, and attempted "suicide by cop." One person sent photos of their cut wrists to a family member. When officers arrived the person told them they staged the photos to get attention.
- Another community member took a large quantity of pills then called a crisis hotline. When officers arrived they broke into the residence to get to the unconscious person. A team from Great Falls Emergency Services transported the individual to Benefis Health System Emergency Department. Before officers re-secured the property they fed and watered the dog.
- If you are in a dark place and even considering suicide please reach out for help. There are people you don’t even know who care about you. Call the suicide help line, 911, or a friend. Your life is valuable, you matter, and it does get better. NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HELPLINE 1-800-273-8255
