Sunday, June 01, 2025
68.0°F

Police exonerated in war veteran shooting

SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 8 months AGO
by SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER
Hagadone News Network | September 4, 2020 5:06 PM

A jury ruled two Kalispell Police Department officers were not at fault in the shooting of a man in his home in January 2016.

Ryan Pengelly, 35, a military veteran who was deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq, sued the city of Kalispell and the police department in 2019 after the shooting inside his home while answering a call about the mental health of Pengelly’s mother, Bonnie.

Jurors deliberated about two hours Friday afternoon in Flathead County District Court.

Kalispell Police Chief Doug Overman said he wished Pengelly well but was pleased his officers were exonerated.

“We wish the best for Ryan and it was a very difficult situation for everyone involved, but we are pleased our officers’ actions were validated through the trial,” Overman said.

Natasha Jones, the lead attorney representing the department, said both officers involved in the shooting, Sgt. Chad Zimmerman and officer Eric Brinton were the keys in the jury’s verdict.

“The testimony of the two officers showed how extremely well trained they were,” Jones said. “They were placed in an impossible situation which was very traumatic for them.

“They made difficult decisions and they showed their professionalism, empathy and fine character through their testimony.”

Attorneys for Ryan Pengelly argued police didn’t obtain an arrest warrant for Bonnie when they arrived at the home the two of them shared on Looking Glass Drive on Jan. 12, 2016.

Attorneys representing the city of Kalispell and the police department maintain it is not police procedure to obtain an arrest warrant when taking someone into custody for a mental health check.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.

MORE LOCAL-NEWS STORIES

Jurors hear testimony in trial involving Kalispell man shot by police
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 4 years, 9 months ago
Victim shot by Kalispell police testifies during civil trial
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 4 years, 9 months ago
Trial set for case involving war veteran, Kalispell police officers
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 5 years, 1 month ago

ARTICLES BY SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER

Libby’s Rambo honored for sacrifice in Vietnam
May 30, 2025 7 a.m.

Libby’s Rambo honored for sacrifice in Vietnam

Rambo was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and...

Libby man jailed on negligent homicide charge in toddler's death
May 28, 2025 4:40 p.m.

Libby man jailed on negligent homicide charge in toddler's death

When law officers and Libby Volunteer Ambulance members arrived the scene they were told...

Libby man jailed on negligent homicide charge in toddler's death
May 28, 2025 5 p.m.

Libby man jailed on negligent homicide charge in toddler's death

A Libby man has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of his 3-year-old son.