Details from an assault on a Montana Highway Patrol sergeant on Feb. 28 in Missoula are emerging from recently released court documents.
The incident began at around 7 p.m. when MHP Sgt. Andrew Novak attempted to pull over a pickup truck that had failed to stop at a red light near the intersection of Airway Boulevard and Highway 10 West.
Charging documents state that when the vehicle came to a stop, 50-year-old Larry Denison emerged from the vehicle wearing a long knife and disobeying Sgt Novak’s orders to stay in the vehicle as well as other commands.
When Denison reached for something in the back of his truck Sgt. Novak took cover and drew his duty weapon. Denison then attempted to flee the scene and Sgt. Novak pursued the defendant leading to an altercation.
Court documents say that’s when Denison reached for Novak’s service weapon and began forcefully throwing rocks at the MHP sergeant saying, “I’ll beat you to death with rocks before you ever shoot me.”
Dennison was eventually arrested with the assistance of additional MHP troopers and is currently being held in Missoula jail. He is facing felony charges for assault on a peace officer and intimidation as well as misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol, obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest and driving while license suspended or revoked.
Dennison currently has his driver’s license suspended by the state of Oregon.
