Harrison Garrett Alvarez, Simple Assault, Montana 2019

The waters ran red with fear as Harrison Garrett Alvarez, an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer, pointed an assault rifle at three Blackfeet tribal employees who were simply doing their job in Cut Bank, Montana, on July 24, 2019.

The victims, three employees of the Blackfeet Tribe's Environmental Office, had traveled to Alvarez's property to field test water in Cut Bank Creek. They had received permission from Alvarez's wife, but that didn't stop Alvarez from brandishing his rifle and yelling at the victims.

According to court documents, Alvarez disputed that his wife had given the victims permission to be on the property, despite their claims that she had told them it was okay. When the victims tried to leave, Alvarez ordered them to drop their equipment and move closer to him while still pointing the rifle at them. One of the victims was heard saying, 'Now you know I shoot first, ask questions later.'

Alvarez, 30, of Cut Bank, pleaded guilty to three counts of simple assault in a superseding information. The charges carry a maximum six months in prison, a $5,000 fine, and one year of supervised release on each count. In a plea agreement, the parties agreed that a five-year term of probation is appropriate.

Alvarez was released pending sentencing, which is set for November 18. If he fails to comply with the terms of his probation, he could face additional consequences. The Blackfeet tribal employees were left shaken but grateful that no one was hurt in the ordeal.

The case was investigated by the Glacier County Sheriff's Office, FBI, and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/duty-federal-law-enforcement-officer-admits-threatening-three-blackfeet-tribal-employees