Officer-involved shooting reported

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, Bonners Ferry Police Department, and Kootenai Tribal Police were investigating an alleged hit and run incident and a separate crash involving the same suspected vehicle on Nov. 29 around 5:15 p.m. on Mission Road.

According to the affidavit, the suspect, 45-year old Michael Lange of Bonners Ferry, crashed his truck in a ditch south of Mission Road after driving through a wheat field. Lange allegedly appeared intoxicated to law enforcement, due to slurred speech and belligerent attitude.

As Kootenai Tribal Police Officer Heiko Arshat was attempting to help Lange out of the truck, Lange allegedly reached for a .308 semi-automatic rifle that was in the passenger seat, ignoring the commands to stop and not grab the rifle. According to the affidavit, he then pointed the gun at Bonners Ferry Police Officer Mike Martinez, at which time Arshat and Martinez engaged him with their service pistols, firing several shots, until Lange released the rifle and put his hands in the air.

Lange suffered a non life threatening injury to his finger, was treated by Kootenai Medical Center and released to be booked at the Boundary County Jail with charges for driving under the influence of alcohol and aggravated assault.

North Bench Fire and Boundary Ambulance also responded to the scene. North Bench assisted in closing down Mission Road for some time during the investigation.

As is customary and appropriate following an officer involved shooting, a multi-agency investigative task force, headed by the Idaho State Police, is investigating the incident.

Lange is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14, and his bond has been set at $50,000.

“We are all relieved in law enforcement that the officers are safe,” said Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer. “They relied on their training and came home safe.”