Patrolman Michael M. Ren EOW April 8, 1978

The shooting: Patrolman Michael M The shooting: Patrolman Michael M. Ren was shot and killed after being called to assist a deputy from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in serving two felony warrants on a recently released mental patient. The suspect was wanted for violating terms of his release from a State mental health facility. Patrolman Ren spotted the suspect driving a pickup truck and a high-speed chase ensued. During the chase, the suspect retrieved a .308 rifle from inside the cab of his pickup and opened fire on both officers. Five rounds struck Patrolman Ren's patrol car. The chase ended when the suspect was stopped by a dead end street near a residence. As Patrolman Ren pulled up, the suspect jumped from his truck and shot Ren in the chest with the .308. The suspect ran to a nearby residence and took the household hostage. Officers from Lincoln and Flathead County Sheriff's Department, Highway Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol surrounded the residence. After six hours, the suspect released his hostages but remained barricaded inside the house. Three canisters of tear gas were fired into the house, and the suspect surrendered. The murderer: The suspect was charged with deliberate Homicide and was committed to a mental institution. He was later released and committed suicide. Michael M. Ren was born September 1, 1947. Funeral services: Were held at the First Baptist Church in Eureka and burial services were held at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Pallbearers were Jerry Criner, Perry Brown, Bill Cady, Mike Sturmak, Rod Stenslie, and Loren Netzloff.