Our View: Public deserves full story on the escapee

The escape of attempted murder suspect Gabriel Arkinson in downtown Havre Tuesday showed the best of Havre and the Hi-Line, and it showed some ways day-to-day operations need to improve.

Havre police officers and their colleagues from U.S Border Patrol, Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol did a fantastic job of conducting a thorough and professional search for Arkinson, going door to door.

They found him with the assistance of a Social Security Administration guard. After that, order was restored to Havre quickly.

When Arkinson was discovered missing, Havre schools got word out quickly that their buildings were on lockdown and students were safe. Teachers kept teaching, students kept learning.

The leadership of Havre Police Department did an admirable job of getting out news on the case as soon as possible. People knew to be on the lookout or to go inside. There was no mass confusion among the populace.

Police brought in extra dispatchers so they could answer calls from concerned residents who were trying to figure out just what was going on.

As soon as it was clear that the suspect had been apprehended, Police Chief Gabe Matosich let media know, so they could get word out to anxious community members.

And the people of Havre should be saluted for taking the whole thing in stride. Of course it was disconcerting to learn that an alleged attempted murderer was on the loose, there was widespread interest in what was going on, and there was apprehension. But there was no panic.

Special praise to the people at Western Drug Pharmacy on 5th Avenue, where the escapee was eventually captured. This is the second traumatic incident at the store this year. Earlier this year, they were robbed.

The incident did show some problems, though, that have to be addressed.

Seven days after the episode, it is still unclear just what happened.

Arkinson was being transported by Fort Belknap Indian Reservation authorities from Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation to Fort Belknap to face some very serious charges.

How did he manage to escape? Wasn't he under severe confinement as he was hauled through town? One of the charges he faces is felony escape. Doesn't it seem a very close eye should be kept on such a suspect? What is being done to ensure that such escapes don’t happen again. And just what did Arkinson do to land himself in such serious trouble in the first place?

These seem like legitimate questions to which the people of the Hi-Line are entitled to know the answers.

If you are looking for answers from Fort Belknap officials, best of luck.

Only one person in all of Fort Belknap is authorized to answer your questions — that is George Horse Capture, the deputy tribal chief — that’s the word from everyone you talk to about the incident. And he has been consistently unavailable.

Fort Belknap has the responsibility to tell the Hi-Line just what happened and what is being done to see that there is no repeat of this ugly incident.

If nothing is done, the people of Fort Belknap may end up in the same situation that the people of Havre were last week.

By Alex Ross

Escaped prisoner puts scare in Havre

Suspect apprehended after two-hour search

November 18, 2015

Havre Daily News/Roger Miller

Law enforcement officers confer in front of Lincoln-McKinley Primary School Tuesday during the search for escaped prisoner Gabriel Arkinson. Arkinson, who escaped from custody facing charges including attempted homicide, was apprehended Tuesday afternoon in the 5th Avenue building that houses a Social Security office and Western Drug Pharmacy.

A prisoner on the loose in Havre Tuesday fled into the city's downtown area, prompting a lockdown of schools and other public buildings.

Police were notified at 11:22 a.m. that Gabriel Arkinson, who faces multiple charges including attempted homicide, escaped from Fort Belknap Indian Reservation authorities as he was being transported from the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

The prisoner was handcuffed and shackled at the time.

He was apprehended a little more than two hours later.

Jason Barkus, Havre's assistant police chief, said Arkinson, 29, took flight at 1st Street and 6th Avenue, traveling south. Officials said the transport officer escorting Arkinson did not say how the prisoner escaped.

Havre public schools were placed on lockdown, along with the Hill County Courthouse and the HRDC Building, barring anyone from entering or leaving the premises.

Law enforcement agencies. including the Havre Police Department, the Hill County Sheriff's Office, Montana Highway Patrol and the U.S Border Patrol, were on the streets as they searched Havre for anything that could lead them to the escapee's capture.

It was reported at the time that Arkinson was wearing a green prison uniform, orange shoes and shackles.

Throughout that time, sidewalks were deserted, with curious drivers slowly moving along, scanning the area for anything peculiar. Some, such as an employee at Heirloom Jewelers, locked their doors, fearing for their safety and their merchandise.

Calls from concerned residents to Havre Police surged to the point that two extra dispatchers had to be called in.

Parents received text messages that the schools were on lockdown. Classes continued, but no one was allowed to enter or leave the school.

At one point, law enforcement officers gathered outside Lincoln-McKinley Primary School to formulate a plan going forward.

Montana State University-Northern remained open, but officials said they were ready to close if need be.

During the search, police warned people not to try to apprehend Arkinson.

"If you see anything just call 911 right away, don't try and apprehend him," said Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich.

Officers dispersed soon after, to resume canvassing the streets.

"Officers are going street by street, block by block," said Matosich, as officers climbed into their respective vehicles and sped off.

Arkinson was later spotted in the building housing Western Drug Pharmacy and the U.S. Social Security Administration on 5th Avenue. He entered the building around 1 p.m. and became locked in after the building went into lockdown. He was later found by a guard stationed in the Social Security Office.

Law enforcement was notified of Arkinson's location at 1:36 p.m.

Vehicles from every law enforcement agency rushed into the parking lot behind the building, and Arkinson was subsequently taken into police custody.

City residents and the schools were then notified of his capture and the lockdown on schools was immediately lifted, according to personnel at the Havre schools.

Matosich later praised the community for its support.

"A big thank you to all the other agencies for helping out and apprehending him as soon as possible," he said.

Arkinson was temporarily held at Hill County Detention Center Tuesday, before being transferred to Fort Belknap Detention Center.

He will face pending charges of felony escape, along with charges of attempted homicide, attempted aggravated assault, assault on a peace officer, criminal endangerment and a previous charge of escape.

Despite repeated attempts, no law enforcement or legal agency would comment on the details regarding crimes Arkinson is accused of, or specifics about the legal proceedings going forward.