On October 7th, at approximately 12:30 PM, a disturbance was reported between a mother and her son at a local address in Great Falls. The initial 911 call was disconnected, prompting dispatcher Kelly Johannek to text the number to check on the community member’s needs.
The complainant, Trudy Fisher, who is deaf, communicated through text that her 21-year-old deaf son, Jeremy, was out of control and she required assistance.
Three officers were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the first two officers were welcomed into the home by Miss Fisher, who pointed to Jeremy, sitting in a corner chair. Jeremy became agitated upon seeing the officers and briefly communicated with his mother in sign language before attempting to leave the room.
According to reports, one officer followed Jeremy, while the other sought information from Miss Fisher. Jeremy reportedly refused to communicate, and to ensure safety, was placed in handcuffs while officers assessed whether a crime had occurred.
The third officer, who had prior knowledge of the Fishers and their disabilities, requested Great Falls Interpretive Services for better communication with them. However, dispatchers informed the officers that interpretive services would not respond due to past issues with Miss Fisher.
Upon the third officer’s arrival, he reportedly assisted in placing Jeremy in handcuffs. Lieutenant Matt Fleming explained that during this process, Jeremy actively resisted, and the officers used minor physical control techniques to secure him, including taking him to the ground. “At no point was Jeremy struck in the face or punched in the face,” stated Lieutenant Fleming.
According to reports, once in handcuffs, Jeremy initially resisted but then calmed down. The third officer once again requested interpretive services specifically for Jeremy. Afterward, Miss Fisher requested an ambulance for a cut on Jeremy’s hand; however, Jeremy, being an adult, refused medical assistance, leading to the cancellation of the ambulance response.
Upon investigation, officers found that no crime had been committed and subsequently released Jeremy. At that time, Miss Fisher stated she did not believe further issues would arise and would call back if needed.
The Great Falls Police Department does not have body cameras, but has audio recording capabilities within a certain range from patrol cars. This audio was provided as evidence in regard to this incident.
“The primary drive for us providing this information today is the amount of mistruth and misinformation circulating about our agency and our community on social media,” explained Lieutenant Matt Fleming in the video release. “These things have gone so far as to trigger threats of violence and open murder for law enforcement officers in our community. I don’t think that’s appropriate. We try to be as transparent as possible. We also have to take into account our citizens’ constitutional rights and civil liberties.”
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
