(UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.) The GFPD says that 911 Dispatch received a report at about 2:45 a.m. of someone threatening a group of people inside a residence with a gun. The caller said they were inside an apartment with friends when a dispute occurred and a male pointed a gun at them.
The GFPD said in a news release that officers identified the suspect as 22-year-old Ethan Hathaway. Officers issued commands for Hathaway to come out of the apartment and after several rounds of commands went unanswered, the Central Montana High Risk Unit (HRU) was deployed.
Members of the HRU, consisting of GFPD officers and Cascade County Sheriff's deputies, convinced Hathaway to leave the residence, but the GFPD said that "he did not comply with their orders to effect a peaceful arrest," so he was eventually taken into custody after "less lethal munitions" were used to gain compliance.
Hathaway was taken to the Cascade County Detention Center and is facing two felony counts of assault with a weapon, two felony counts of obstructing a peace officer, and one misdemeanor count of social host.
What does a violation of "social host" mean?
Montana Code Annotated states that a "social host ordinance" is an ordinance enacted to prohibit the encouraging, conducting, allowing, or organizing of parties, events, and gatherings at which a person under 21 years of age is in possession of or is consuming an alcoholic beverage.
Great Falls City Code states: "A person violates this chapter when, as a social host, a person knows or reasonably should have known, that an underage person is in possession of, is consuming, or has consumed, an alcoholic beverage a prohibited substance on a premises within the City, and fails to take reasonable steps, including but not limited to, notifying law enforcement to prevent the alcohol prohibited substance consumption or possession by the underage person. The social host does not have to be present or on the premises at the time the prohibited act occurs."
During the incident, officers contacted a group of people who had been inside the apartment prior to Hathaway’s stand-off with police. Officers cited an intoxicated 17-year-old male for possessing intoxicating substances while under the age of 21.
The juvenile was released with a "stern warning" not to return to the scene. Shortly after departing, however, the male returned to the scene and was then arrested.
He was taken to Benefis Health System for a medical evaluation, then remanded to the Juvenile Detention Center. He has also been charged with threats/improper influence in official/political matters, and obstructing a peace officer.
An 18-year-old female was cited for possessing intoxicating substances while under the age of 21 (Over Age 18) (M), and released from the scene.
During this incident, schools in the immediate area were in “Shelter in Place” status, and several homes, including the other apartments inside the affected building, were evacuated.
(UPDATE, 8:55 a.m.) The suspect has been safely taken into custody.
Officers will remain in the area for some time to complete their investigation.
We will update you if we get more information.
(1st REPORT) There is a large police presence in the vicinity of Central Avenue and 44th Street in Great Falls as of 7:20 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026.
The Great Falls Police Department says that officers are trying to contact a person involved in a "felony assault with weapon" investigation.
The investigation began just before 3 a.m. after 911 Dispatch received a call from this location.
Police are trying to get the person to comply and come out of the residence.
We have received reports that some schools in the area have implemented shelter-in-place procedures as a precaution.
People are asked to avoid the area until the situation has been resolved.
We will update you when we get more information.
