Two men arrested in West Valley standoff

Two Flathead Valley men are in custody after a standoff with law enforcement officers that ended early Tuesday morning.

Roddy Willis White, 24, and Mikhael Payne, 33, were both arrested after midnight. White was arrested at the scene while Payne was located elsewhere.

According to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, officers were called at about 7:30 p.m. Monday to the 1300 block of Prairie View Road, located just off KM Ranch Road in Happy Valley.

A man said another man had fired a gun at him and provided the names of the people involved.

Neither White nor Payne were involved with the initial shooting call, but had outstanding warrants for other offenses.

White, who has charges of burglary and theft against him, failed to appear in court on one of the alleged crimes.

Payne, who authorities are still questioning, has charges of civil contempt and failure to appear against him.

Heino said the man who said he was shot at knows the alleged shooter. But that man is still being sought by law officers.

“We’re still trying to patch together what happened,” Heino said.

Kalispell Police Department’s SWAT team worked with the Sheriff’s Office to bring the men into custody.

“We surrounded the residence and tried to contact anyone who may have been inside, but we had no response,” Heino said.

After using a flash bang device and receiving no response, the team used an explosive to breach the door, Heino said. But there was still no response.

Small robots armed with cameras were maneuvered inside the residence to determine if anyone was inside and no one was found.

When law officers searched a trailer nearby, they found White.

The SWAT team was on the scene from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. and detectives remained there until 2 or 3 a.m., according to Heino.

Two Bear Air also assisted at the scene.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.