Billings, Montana – In a verdict that highlighted the tragic complexities of police confrontations, a coroner’s jury ruled Friday that no criminal action was involved in the death of 35-year-old Curtis Yellowtail. He was shot by law enforcement after a standoff in May 2022, near Fireside Lanes, where officers from the Billings Police Department (BPD) and a Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) officer were involved.
Testimony during the inquest revealed that Yellowtail had pointed what appeared to be a genuine firearm at the officers. It was later discovered that the weapon was actually a toy cap gun with identifying features altered to look more realistic. The situation escalated after Yellowtail, in a dramatic standoff, threatened his own life, prompting law enforcement intervention.
The event unfolded late at night when BPD officers responded to a distress call at a local gas station. Yellowtail was initially reported to be assaulting a woman in his vehicle. When officers arrived, he fled the scene, sparking a high-speed chase that concluded with his vehicle becoming immobilized near a local bowling alley.
As law enforcement surrounded the crashed vehicle, the tense standoff began. Sgt. Ben Beck, a trained negotiator, attempted to de-escalate the situation, communicating with Yellowtail to surrender peacefully. Despite these efforts, the situation deteriorated when Yellowtail, ignoring commands to disarm, eventually pointed his weapon at the officers, prompting them to open fire.
The jury, having deliberated for only 20 minutes, determined the officers’ use of lethal force was justified, categorizing Yellowtail’s death as “suicide by law enforcement intervention.” This term is used to describe instances where individuals provoke officers into using lethal force.
The complexity of the confrontation was deepened by findings from the autopsy, conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Robert Kurtzman, which showed that Yellowtail was under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine at the time of his death.
Public inquests such as this are standard protocol in Montana for any fatal incidents involving law enforcement officers. However, these proceedings have often been scrutinized due to the perceived closeness between the county attorney’s office and the police.
During the inquest, key testimonies were heard, including from officers who did not fire their weapons but were present at the scene. Their testimonies emphasized the perceived threat posed by Yellowtail and the limited non-lethal options available at the time. The only less-lethal tools on hand were beanbag shotguns, which proved ineffective.
This incident marks the seventeenth death involving law enforcement officers in Billings from 2015 to the current day, with a significant proportion of these casualties being Native American. This statistic stands out starkly against the backdrop of national data showing Native Americans are disproportionately affected by police use of lethal force.
This case, like many others, underscores the critical need for ongoing dialogues and reforms in how law enforcement interacts with communities, particularly minority communities. It also highlights the severe consequences that can arise from actions taken in highly charged situations, emphasizing the importance of accurate threat assessment and the availability of non-lethal options in policing.
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