Police arrest another person involved in shooting
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RONAN – A man involved in a November shooting and robbery incident with a 16-year-old in Ronan was found and arrested in Polson.
A Polson Police officer arrested Darius Samuel McDougall, 21, on Thursday, Dec. 6, for his alleged involvement in a robbery at a residence at the 300 block of 12th Ave. in Ronan, according to Ronan Police Chief Ken Weaver.
During the robbery, a shooting also occurred, and a 16-year-old was identified as the shooting suspect. Weaver said McDougall and the 16-year-old conspired together to commit robbery. McDougall allegedly drove the car to the residence. A 33-year-old man was initially sought as a person of interest during the investigation but was later found to have no involvement in the case.
The 25-year-old shooting victim was reported to be in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries at the St. Luke Community Healthcare hospital after the incident.
The Ronan Police Department went to work to find the suspects and obtained a $100,000 arrest warrant for McDougall. He was arrested in the parking lot of the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino on the outstanding warrant the Ronan officers worked to get. McDougall was booked into the Lake County jail.
Before the suspects were arrested, Ronan officers located the vehicle used during the robbery and interviewed the occupants. Based on information obtained during interviews, officers had several leads concerning the location of the suspects. They searched the locations and found additional information.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, a Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal officer spotted the shooting suspect in Pablo. The officer attempted a traffic stop to apprehend the suspect, but the driver failed to yield and a pursuit started. The Ronan Police Department K9 team and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office were called for assistance.
During the pursuit, a 9mm handgun was thrown from the vehicle and two of the occupants switched spots. The shooting suspect was in the driver’s seat when the vehicle crashed on Duck Road in Ronan. The occupants were ejected, and the vehicle caught fire. The shooting suspect fled on foot but was eventually taken into custody. The four occupants in the wrecked car were taken to the hospital.
Weaver said the Ronan department worked with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, CSKT Tribal Law and Order, Montana Highway Patrol, and the St. Ignatius Police Department during the investigation. He added that the Lake County Attorney’s Office, Lake County Youth Court and Lake County Dispatch also assisted during the case. He thanked the agencies involved.
