Stevensville Man Arrested in Firearms Incident
A five-hour standoff near Stevensville Sunday evening resulted in a Stevensville man being arrested by Ravalli County Sheriff's Deputies. A felony charge of attempted deliberate homicide has been initially charged against 48-year-old Dan Robert Loeffler, according to Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton.
Officers were called to Cougar Lane a little after 7 p.m. Sunday, May 15, upon reports described by a sheriff's office news release that stated "a resident in the area had fired multiple rounds toward other residents and homes, causing them apprehension for their safety." Officers responded and found Loeffler standing on the deck of his home. Officers approached, but Loeffler did not cooperate with them and eventually locked himself inside inside the house, beginning the standoff.
Negotiation was done by phone and with loudspeakers, and with some success during the next five hours, Loeffler came out of the house, but was still uncooperative. Several officers apprehended him with the use of a Taser. There were no significant injuries to anyone involved, Holton reported.
The initial felony charges are Attempted Deliberate Homicide,three counts of Criminal Endangerment, three counts of Assault with a Weapon and misdemeanor Obstructing a Peace Officer. Loeffler is in the Ravalli County Detention Center and investigation is continuing.
Sheriff Holton credited the deputies for their professionalism, saying in a news release, "The responding deputies took immediate steps to de-escalate the situation before an innocent person could be hurt, and took measures to protect themselves and the suspect during what could potentially have been a tragic situation."