A Polson man who fired at law enforcement officers during a 2024 standoff was sentenced Feb. 19 to 20 years in Montana State Prison. 

Ricky Scott Riebe, 64, entered a no contest plea to two counts of assault on a peace or judicial officer in the 20th Judicial District Court in Polson on Jan. 5. The plea was part of an agreement that dismissed a misdemeanor charge of partner or family assault and felony charges of criminal endangerment and five counts of assault on a peace officer.

Riebe was already adjudicated on driving under the influence and bail jumping charges, according to Lake County Attorney James Lapokta. He was sentenced to time served on those matters.

According to court records and a press release issued by Lake County Sheriff Don Bell, on April 6, 2024, at about 6:45 p.m., Lake County 911 dispatchers received a call stating that a domestic disturbance had taken place on Kerr Dam Road. The report was made by a relative of the victim who was en route to an area hospital.

The victim told the responding officers that she woke Riebe up and he began to argue with her. She said he grabbed a bottle of vodka and struck her on the top of the head with it. She asked Riebe why he was beating her to which he replied, “just shut up.” She stated that Riebe punched her with closed fists, and that Riebe got on top of her and that she couldn’t breathe.

The officers observed marks under her eyes and dried blood under her right eye and left index finger. The officers also observed that her temple area appeared swollen and bruised as was her chin and right forearm. She also indicated that the top of her head hurt.

The officers responded to the residence at about 7:30 p.m. to arrest Riebe for partner or family member assault. The officers knocked on the door and Riebe refused to answer other than to say, “I will defend myself and you will get shot.”

The officers called for assistance which came from law enforcement agencies in Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius. Eventually the Flathead County SWAT Team arrived with two armored vehicles. Negotiations continued until about 11:30 p.m. when cold gas munitions were deployed inside the home.

Riebe then began firing rounds at the officers’ positions. Several of them reported they could hear bullets fly past or impact near them. Several shots were also fired at the two armored units. Officers never returned fire, authorities said.

As the officers were about to deploy more chemical agents inside the home, Riebe exited and was subdued by a K-9 unit. A total of eight law enforcement agencies participated in the standoff.

Judge John A. Mercer gave Riebe credit for having served 683 days in jail and ordered him to pay restitution of $2,672.83 for damage caused to a SWAT team vehicle.