03.18.08 I thought I should make it clear that this post is based entirely off observation, for actually news reports, there are links at the bottom of the post.
03.16.08 I don’t really have any facts of a current situation, because, well, it’s still happening. Apparently, earlier in the day there was a fatal shooting in Creston, MT (which is close to Kalispell) and a subsequent standoff between the suspect and police. The standoff is three houses down from where I live. There are 5-O crawling everywhere and Dan was approached by two members of the SWAT team (I think) telling him to try to stay inside. The only real information I have to go on is a promised story on tonight’s news at 10. Wish me no flying bullets. I’ll keep you posted.

Update: 7:15pm I have a feeling they’ve closed off the highway again, there’s no traffic (that just doesn’t happen), and the cops have been slowly pacing up and down the road. It was closed off earlier today, but was opened for several hours.

Update: 8:58pm The highway is still closed. There are spotlights on the house where the standoff is occurring and people that I can’t confirm are officers are running back and forth to the house to what I can only assume are their cars. It also looks and sounds like there’s a semi truck in the yard, but I can’t tell for sure. Even with the lights on the house, it’s still dark out here.

Update: 10:01pm I just watched the reports on KPAX and KECI, At 11am Robert Kowalski called to report a shooting in Creston. When police arrived they found a woman, who’s name is yet to be released, dead. Police then surrounded the home of Kowalski who was threatening to kill himself. The reports say that either he is now talking with negotiators (KPAX), or they don’t believe him to be dead (KECI), and hope to not escalate the situation. It’s too early to say how long the standoff will continue. Tomorrow, the woman’s body will be taken to the Montana State Crime Lab.

Update: 03.17.08 2:35pm At this point the standoff is still going on. We think there may have just been a gunshot, but we’re not sure. The bullhorns are louder than ever, but I can’t make out what is being said, I think I may have heard, “unintelligible just come out.” The semi is an armored assault vehicle of some sort. The KPAX article linked to below has been updated with new information. Dan was able to get home, he had to take a few country roads and enter through a back drive way where he stopped to talk to another neighbor who had heard, “Pick up the phone,” on the bullhorn. On the property are a house and a shop in front, and he seems to be in the house, we don’t know for sure if anyone else is in the house. I’ll update again when things change.

Update: 3:30pmStandoff
There were about 5 of these armed guys (SWAT? I’m not sure) that came, they rushed through the neighboring yards towards the house, but left soon after. We’re not sure what is going on in regards to them.

Update: 5:23pm We just heard a few sirens and lots of gunfire, Dan counted ten shots from Kowalski, and then over the mega-phone, “Put the gun down and you won’t be hurt.”

Update: 5:28pm We can still hear the police talking through the mega-phone, but can’t understand what they’re saying. There are two SWAT members on the East side of the house at this point.

Update: 5:31pm Dan just made the decision to call his work and let them know he’ll be late. This is not the time I want him driving through the mess.

Update: 5:34pm We just saw the two SWAT members fire three… four… five shots. Dan thinks it may be tear-gas, but he doesn’t see any smoke that tear-gas usually has. They look like they’re firing towards the road, so we’re not sure what’s happening. 5:37pm It’s not tear-gas since they’re not moving in. We think Kowalski may be in the shop that’s in front of the house, since that’s the direction they’re firing. 5:39pm Another three shots fired from Kowalski. You can tell his shots versus the SWAT’s shots — his go, “Pop,” while theirs go, “Thump… Boom”. The rounds from the SWAT are large. We can see them on the ground. They’ve also quit talking to him through the mega-phone. 6:11pm Four member of SWAT are now casually walking out from their cover and are walking towards the highway. There are also police walking around in the highway. 6:17pm The ambulance and fire rescue are now moving in towards the house, it appears to be over. The police and SWAT are also moving cars out. 6:19pm Dan just walked out to the road and they’re loading the robot used to photograph the shop up, and fire rescue is moving into the shop. They’re also carting someone (I can only assume it is Kowalski) on a stretcher. 6:23pm We’re calling it over.

7:00pm The highway is almost completely clear and we suspect it will be open soon. The authorities have moved out quickly. This will be my last update until there is more concrete information tomorrow. Stay safe, everyone. I lied….

10:01pm It was irritant gas, and Kowalski is in custody, alive… Authorities are pleased with the outcome.

Links: KPAX, The Daily Interlake, Flathead Beacon