Eureka resident allegedly pointed rifle at deputy

A Eureka man shot by a Lincoln County sheriff's deputy after allegedly pointing a rifle at the officer was in serious but stable condition Wednesday night at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Harry Dukehart Sultzer, 54, was shot Tuesday night in the arm and chest, Lincoln County Attorney Bernard G. Cassidy said. Surgeons removed one of the bullets Wednesday afternoon.

According to Cassidy, deputies were called at about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday to a disturbance at Sultzer's residence in the Creekside Trailer Court on U.S. 93 in Eureka. A neighbor told deputies the altercation began when Sultzer, who was outside his trailer, began urinating in front of her children. Sultzer claimed the neighbor threatened to shoot him.

But Sultzer reportedly refused to answer the door and deputies left.

Hours later, an acquaintance of Sultzer's told authorities that Sultzer had "snapped" and fired a gun inside his trailer. The acquaintance also said that Sultzer, who had left his residence, was driving erratically and running stop signs.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop on U.S. 93, and at first it appeared that Sultzer would pull over. But when the deputy got out of his patrol car, Sultzer sped back to his trailer.

Two deputies in a marked patrol car followed Sultzer home and pulled in behind him. The deputy who was driving stepped out, Cassidy said.

Then Sultzer also got out of his car and allegedly pointed a .30 caliber M-1 carbine at the deputy. The deputy shot three times with his .40-caliber Glock, hitting Sultzer twice.

After he was shot, Sultzer squeezed off between eight and 10 rounds, some of which hit the deputies' marked patrol car, Cassidy said.

Cassidy declined to release the names of the officers involved in the shooting, but did say Sultzer could be charged with assault on a police officer.

After the shooting, Sultzer was taken into custody and transported to the hospital.

The shooting is under investigation by the Division of Criminal Investigation of the Montana Department of Justice, Lincoln County sheriff's detectives and the Montana Highway Patrol.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com