In the spring of 1978, a tragic event unfolded on the roads of Montana that would end the life of a dedicated law enforcement officer. Michael Ren, a 30-year-old White / Caucasian male and a Montana Highway Patrolman, was on duty on April 8, 1978, when he responded to a call for assistance from a Lincoln County Sheriff's deputy. The deputy was attempting to serve two felony warrants on a man who had recently been released from a state mental health facility and had violated the terms of his release.
Patrolman Ren spotted the suspect driving a pickup truck, which initiated a high-speed chase. During the pursuit, the suspect armed himself with a. 308 rifle and began firing at both of the pursuing officers. Several rounds struck Patrolman Ren's patrol car as the chase continued. The pursuit came to a crashing end in the town of Eureka. As Patrolman Ren approached the stopped truck, the suspect exited his vehicle and fired a single shot that struck Ren in the abdomen.
The bullet tragically found a gap between the panels of his protective vest.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled to a nearby residence and took the occupants hostage, leading to a tense standoff with law enforcement. Officers from the sheriff's department, the Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Border Patrol surrounded the house. After six long hours, the suspect released his hostages but remained barricaded inside. Law enforcement then deployed three canisters of tear gas into the home, which ultimately led to the suspect's surrender. Michael Ren was survived by his wife and their 5-year-old son, who would go on to join the Montana Highway Patrol himself in 2000.
