Authorities believe Montana fugitive is still alive

MISSOULA — Authorities say they believe a former militia man is still alive nearly two weeks after he fired at sheriff's deputies and then fled into the western Montana woods.

The Missoula County Sheriff's Department says authorities were working to rule out that 47-year-old David Burgert was injured or had harmed himself. More than 40 officers and two cadaver dogs participated in the search on Thursday but turned up no sign of him.

A department statement issued Friday says officers searched between U.S. Highway 12 and Interstate 90, but found no evidence that Burgert is still in the immediate area.

Nobody was injured in the June 12 shooting. Burgert was the leader of a militia group accused of plotting to assassinate judges and law enforcement officers in Flathead County a decade ago.