A local couple has sued the City of Kalispell for injuries sustained during an officer-involved shooting over 3-years ago in the Town Pump Convenience store on Cemetery Road, south of town. Carla & John Yogerst are asking financial relief after Carla was caught in the crossfire in the incident.
The incident was investigated by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit, since the shooting involved a Kalispell Police Officer.
Here’s how the story unfolds. It was just before 10:00 that Friday night when Kalispell Police were called to the Town Pump. Investigators tell us 41-year old Isaiah Strong of Kalispell was reported slamming his S-U-V into other vehicles. When officers arrived, the found the vehicle parked outside the convenience store, unoccupied. The officers spread-out on foot looking for Strong. Officer Brady Gray entered the convenience store, where she found Strong swinging a short baseball bat, striking her. Strong then went after a patron in the store, turning his attention back to Officer Gray, striking the officer with the bat a second time. That’s when Officer Gray called for backup. Before backup arrived, Officer Gray responded with deadly force.
In the store at the time, a woman–now known to us as Carla Yogerst, and not involved in the incident, was hit in the lower leg by a stray bullet. She and Officer Gray were taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center to care for their injuries.
Carla Yogerst leg wound included 2-fractured bones. They’re asking for compensation for her medical and, now, legal costs.
The City cites Montana Law giving officers immunity for actions taken within the scope of their duties. The case will be heard in the Court of District Judge Danni Coffman a year from now.
