Update 2:10 p.m.
Billings police have identified the suspect arrested following a four-hour standoff Monday morning as 64-year-old David Dwelly of Billings.
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Dwelly was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, assault, obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest and felony criminal mischief, according to a news release from Lt. Samantha Puckett.
Police responded to a call of a possible assault at a residence at 725 N. 25th St. around 7:30 a.m., according to the news release. Witnesses told police two people had been assaulted, and the suspect was threatening others, according to the release.
Officers with Billings police and the Yellowstone County SWAT team responded and negotiated with the suspect for about three hours. He refused to cooperate, so police fired gas into the residence, according to the news release.
The suspect left the bathroom but continued to refuse to cooperate, according to police, so a K9 police dog helped bring him into custody around 11:30 a.m.
Here's the full release:
This release is regarding information for C&O 25-012295 an assault and barricaded suspect from March 3, 2025 which occurred in the 700 block of N 25th St.
On March 3, 2025 at approximately 6:43 am Billings Police responded to a disturbance, possible assault at a residence. Officers were advised the suspect had assaulted two people and was threatening other residents. The suspect returned to his apartment and was uncooperative with officers, refusing to come outside and then arming himself with a knife.
The initial investigation indicated that the suspect did assault two people as reported. Based on the possibility of a continued threat to residents, Officers with BPD and YCSO SWAT, drone, and negotiators were called to the scene.
Officers worked on negotiations with the suspect for approximately three hours, but the suspect refused to cooperate. SWAT Officers then deployed gas into the residence. At this time the suspect exited the bathroom but continued to be uncooperative. SWAT Officers and BPD K9 officers deployed the police K9 and were able to take the suspect into custody at 11:30 am.
The suspect, identified as David Dwelly a 64 year old local, received medical attention and has been charged with aggravated assault, assault, obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, and felony criminal mischief.
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Monday morning at Prairie Tower Apartments was unlike any other for its residents. What began as a violent assault quickly escalated into a five-hour standoff with police, leaving the building's community shaken but ultimately relieved that it did not end worse.
Roger Davis, a resident in the apartments, was the first to witness the assault happen. He stepped off of the elevator onto the first floor early that morning, he witnessed Dwelly beat the victims.
"My elevator opened, I seen this tall guy, which his name is David, what I found out, started beating on (a man who worked for a mat cleaning company) and cut him with a knife," claimed Davis. "The same guy, tall guy, went after another guy and broke his nose.”
Davis quickly called 911, and the police responded at 6:43 a.m. He says that police often respond to troubling behavior in the complex, but the situation did catch him off guard.
"It's getting too crazy over there," said Davis. "It shook me up. I thought he was going to come after me."
Bradley Foos and Connie Peckham are two other residents who live in the building and were outside much of the morning due to the first and second floors being blocked off from the stand off. They say the police response was overwhelming.
“I had to get evacuated because they evacuated the first two floors," said Foos. “I heard two flash bangs go off, and then right after that I heard two gunshots, which thankfully turned out to be two rounds from the beanbag gun."
After the standoff ended, the residents were just glad the situation did not escalate further.
“(The police) did a professional job. Everybody did, the staff did, the police did. They did what they had to do and they took their time," said Peckham.
Update 11:35 a.m.
Billings police said at about 11:30 a.m. the suspect was arrested.
"Officers are still on scene and the roadway will be reopened soon," police said on social media.
Police said further information about the incident will be released later today.
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First Report
BILLINGS - The Billings police SWAT team was deployed Monday morning as officers responded to a call of an assault at an apartment building near Dehler Park.
Police said on a social media post that a person had barricaded themself inside the Prairie Tower apartments at 725 N. 25th St. at about 7:30 a.m.
The department's SWAT team and negotiators responded and the public was asked to avoid the area.
Police said in an update that nearby residents could leave their homes for school and work.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
