After a standoff on Birch Lane, Billings police held a press conference

Billings, Montana – A press conference was given by the Billings Police Department on Monday addressing a standoff that occurred on Saturday and resulted in the arrest of Mary White Crane, a resident of Billings.

Throughout the previous five months, Billings has experienced two standoffs that have lasted more than 12 hours.

Gallatin County, Lewis and Clark County, and Yellowstone County law enforcement all assisted in the issue.

“All of our law enforcement were instrumental in taking care of the situation,” said Rich St. John, Chief of the Billings Police Department.

“It would have been problematic to handle the situation without their help.”

On Saturday early in the morning, Billings Police received a report of a lady, subsequently identified as White Crane, discharging a weapon at nearby homes on Birch Lane.

White Crane didn’t give up until Saturday night after the Billings Fire Department had sprayed water into the house.

White Crane shot at the Billings Police when they tried to talk to her earlier in the day, hitting one of them.

After being hit in the abdomen by a bullet that passed through his ballistic armor vest, Officer Mike Yarina is making a full recovery at a nearby hospital.

As is customary when officers are engaged in shootings, four Billings police officers are currently on administrative leave.

Chief St. John stressed that the inquiry is still ongoing.