Case v. Montana

Case Summary:

Case v. Montana involves William Trevor Case, whose ex-girlfriend called 911 after he told her on the phone that he was going to kill himself, mentioned writing a note, appeared to cock a gun, and then made a popping sound before the line went dead. Three officers responded for a welfare check, knew about Case’s history of alcohol abuse, mental-health problems, prior suicide threats, and a past apparent “suicide‑by‑cop” incident, saw through the windows empty beer cans, an empty handgun holster, and a notepad that looked like a suicide note, got no response to loud knocking and calling, and about 40 minutes after arrival entered the home to render emergency aid. Inside, as an officer entered an upstairs bedroom, Case suddenly threw open a closet curtain holding a black object that looked like a gun, the officer shot and wounded him, a handgun was later found nearby, and Case was then prosecuted and convicted in Montana state court for assaulting a police officer after the trial court refused to suppress evidence from the warrantless entry