Man Accused of Firing Handgun at Bozeman Store Employee
On Sunday, Sept., 15, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Bozeman police officers responded to a robbery-in-progress call that originated from Mellow Mood Pipe and Tobacco.
The caller reported that a male had allegedly stolen a water pipe valued at $400 and then fled on foot.
Once police arrived at the scene, the caller/victim stated that he chased the suspect outside of the business and knocked him to the ground, causing the glass pipe to break.
The victim told officers that when the suspect began to get up from the ground he pulled out a handgun and fired a shot, missing the victim.
After the suspect fired the shot, the victim says that the suspect asked him if he "wanted more." It was at this point that the victim returned to the store and the suspect left the area.
A short time later MSU police alerted Bozeman PD that a male matching the suspect's description was located near the duck ponds on campus, but the man fled the scene and MSU police lost sight of him.
A few minutes later, the suspect ran in front of a Bozeman police officer's vehicle near Colombo's Pizza and a foot chase ensued. Eventually the suspect dropped to his knees and surrendered.
The suspect, later identified as Matthew Richard Noorlander, 21 of Belgrade, was then transported to the Law and Justice Center and is being charged with Robbery and Criminal Endangerment.