GREAT FALLS — We have received several messages about a large police presence along River Drive South in Great Falls.
People began messaging the KRTV Facebook page just after 1 p.m. on Friday.
- Private message at 1:06 pm: "Five cop cars just went flying past my office heading up river road to tenth. Any news?"
- Message from Jess Scanlon at 1:07 pm: "Very large police presence on River drive S. Turning traffic back North"
- Private message at 1:12 pm: "What’s going on under there the 10th ave bridge just now?? Cops with guns pulled??"
- Message from Geneva Nicole Waite-Joseph at 1:14 pm: "Cops all over by Extended Stay America. Any one know what’s going on?"
- Private message at 1:21 pm: "Heavy police activity by Laquinta inn"
- Private message forwarded to KRTV at 1:41 pm: "Don’t know what’s going on down on river road!! Every cop in town is there with their lights on! They won’t let traffic thru! River road leading up to upper & lower river road area!"
We have a reporter heading to the scene and will update you when we get details about what is happening.
(UPDATE, 2:07 pm) Reporter Lindsie Hiatt says that she drove the length of River Drive South from Central Avenue to the 10th Avenue South (Warden) Bridge, and there were no police officers, patrol cars, or unusual activity. She talked with an employee of the LaQuinta hotel, who said that she heard sirens, but did not see anything unusual. We will continue trying to find out what was happening.
(UPDATE, 3:06 pm) Officers were responding to a call for a welfare check on two people in Oddfellows Park. Officers shut down the area temporarily for safety purposes. No one was threatened or charged. No other information has been released.
