Witnesses dispute report on fatal police shooting

This story originally was filed Oct. 27, 2021.

Reports say witnesses dispute the facts about the police shooting on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation Saturday that killed 34-year-old Clayton Grant.

Blaine County Sheriff and Coroner John Colby released Tuesday Grant’s name as the person who was shot.

Family and friends were reported to have planned a “Justice for Clayburn” rally outside of his home at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Fort Belknap Indian Community Council reported in posts on its Facebook page Saturday and Sunday that a man — Grant — was shot and killed by Fort Belknap police after a chase that started when the officer tried to make a traffic stop and the driver did not stop.

The Facebook posts did not release the name of the person shot or the officer involved, or whether the officer has been suspended while the incident is investigated.

The first post on the Facebook page said an officer attempted to make a traffic stop in the Hays area, but the vehicle did not stop and a pursuit ensued.

When the pursuit ended, the suspect reported not to have been cooperative and exhibited a weapon, the post said. That led to the officer-involved shooting and the death of the suspect, the post said.

The officer notified dispatch and requested emergency medical services, the post said. Officers and emergency medical services providers attempted to administer aid to the person shot, the post said.

But that account is disputed.

Grant’s sister Carla Grant posted a video showing her brother’s body in the headlights of a vehicle with one arm behind his back, apparently in handcuffs, although the handcuffs are not visible.

She said in a Facebook post that the police shot her brother four times.

Reports are that Clayburn Grant’s significant other, Farron Haakanson, was at the scene at the time of the shooting. She changed her Facebook cover photo to “#Justice for Clayburn Say his name!!!”

Havre Daily is attempting to contact Carla Grant and Haakanson but has not received a response as yet.

Fort Belknap Police Department referred Havre Daily News questions to the Fort Belknap Indian Community administrative office, which directed Havre Daily to Camille Stein, who handles public information for the tribal administration.

Stein had not returned calls or emails from Havre Daily News Monday and Tuesday requesting details, comments and a response to the allegation Grant was handcuffed when shot.

FBI has confirmed it is investigating the incident but would not provide additional details while it is under investigation.

Victim advocate Cheryl Horn of Fort Benton said the council’s statements are taking the officer at his word and ignoring what witnesses said happened, with their reports Grant was handcuffed when the officer shot him four times.

The name of the officer involved, and whether the officer still is on active duty or on leave or suspension, has not been released.

Horn said numerous complaints about that officer have been made in the past, but the police department and tribal council never have acted on the complaints.

“This is what happens when you don’t hold people accountable. Someone gets murdered,” Horn said. “… This wasn’t a shock to people that it was that officer.”