BILLINGS – The Billings Police Department is still searching for two men involved in a burglary that took place Sunday at a Billings downtown home.
According to Police Chief Rich St. John, the home at the 1000 block of 31st Street was being renovated and no one was home at the time.
On Sunday at around 2:15 p.m. Officer Brandon Lang, who is a four-year member of the force, was stationed in the hospital corridor area and responded to the report of the burglary.
St. John said Lang parked his car about a block away and started to walk to the area.
Three suspects presumably involved in the burglary got into a vehicle and started to drive toward officer Lang as he walked in an alley behind residences.
As the driver approached, Lang had nowhere to go and fired his weapon several times in an attempt to stop the approaching vehicle, according to St. John.
Lang was not injured and was able to sidestep the car.
All three of the men got out of the car and ran.
The driver, who suffered facial injuries, was taken into custody and taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries; he remains hospitalized as of mid-day on Monday.
He has not yet been charged and is not in police custody at this time, according to St. John.
St. John said he does not believe there is a threat to the public at this time.
On Monday, Officer Lang was on administrative leave, which is standard procedure whenever an officer fires a weapon.
Following the incident, both hospitals downtown went into lockdown as officers searched for the suspects.
Regarding the two suspects who are still at large: one is 5’8 with long dark hair and wearing a dark colored jacket. The other is shorter, according to St. John, with tattoos and was last seen wearing a blue jacket.
