By Phil Drake
Source Independent Record, Helena, Mont.
A man was killed and a Helena police officer was injured at a bar late Saturday after the man had barricaded himself in a bathroom and stabbed the officer with a knife, authorities said.
Police Chief Brett Petty said officers were called to The Jesters Bar at 200 N. Rodney St. at 11:42 p.m. for a report of a person refusing to leave and had barricaded himself in the bathroom.
Jesters' employees were able to get the man to leave earlier but staff said he had jumped a fence and entered the business through the back door. They said he barricaded himself inside the public bathroom. Officers tried to contact the man, but he refused to leave the bathroom, Petty said in a news release.
He brandished a knife toward the officers and officers tried to detain him by use of "less-lethal force" by using a Taser, Petty said. In trying to restrain the man, he stabbed the initial contact officer "resulting in Officers discharging their duty weapons and striking the male."
Petty said officers gave medical aid to the man but he died from his injuries. He was pronounced dead on scene by medical personnel. His identity will not be released at this time.
The injured officer was taken to St. Peter's emergency room by an East Helena Police officer. He was treated for his injury and is in stable condition. No other officers were injured during the incident, Petty said. The names of the officers involved will not be released at this time.
Petty said that per department policy, the officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. He also said the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office has also been requested per Helena Police Department protocol and is doing an independent investigation to ensure transparency and impartiality.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the individuals involved and affected by this tragic incident," Petty said in the news release. "This incident impacts our entire community, and we want to make sure we are thinking of everyone during this time."
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