Opinion ID: 890192
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 2 On January 5, 2010, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Billings Police Officers Tom Keightley and David Dierenfield (Officers Keightley and Dierenfield) responded to an apartment building on Monad Road in Billings, Montana, to investigate a noise complaint. Upon arrival, Officers Keightley and Dierenfield met with the complainant who told them loud television noises were coming from the apartment below hers. The apartment below the complainant's was occupied by Kirn. ¶ 3 Officers Keightley and Dierenfield went to Kirn's apartment to speak with him about the noise. When Kirn opened his door, he was irritated instantly and very agitated, very animated, belligerent and frankly, came to the door on the fight. Kirn denied his television was too loud and refused to turn the t.v. down. ¶ 4 During the officers' conversation with Kirn, they moved into and out of Kirn's apartment. At some point, inside Kirn's apartment, Kirn put his hand on Officer Keightley's shoulder. Officer Keightley testified it wasn't like he was necessarily pushing me, he just put some light pressure against me[.] Officer Keightley pushed Kirn's hand away and said you don't need to touch me, don't touch me. Kirn then reached out and this time pushed me [Officer Keightley] back. Officer Keightley shouted at him ... not to touch me[.] Kirn then said `we'll see about this' or `we'll see about that,' one of those two things. Kirn then walked away and into a bedroom. ¶ 5 While Kirn was out of sight, Officer Keightley said to Officer Dierenfield he's going to get something, I think it's a gun. Kirn then reappeared. He was standing in a bladed stance showing his left side while obscuring his right hand. Both officers believed Kirn walked away to get a gun, and both were scared. Neither officer could see Kirn's right hand. The officers drew their weapons and shouted at Kirn to show his hands. Kirn did not respond. Officer Keightley finally shouted at Kirn a warning that I would shoot him. Kirn then raised both hands out to the side and dropped what [Officer Keightley] could then see was a shotgun. ¶ 6 Kirn dropped the shotgun in a chair, but still within his reach. The officers shouted at Kirn to move away, but Kirn did not move. Officer Keightley then deployed his taser at Kirn. Kirn immediately fell to the ground and was handcuffed by Officer Dierenfield. After Kirn was apprehended, Officer Dierenfield checked the shotgun and found it was loaded. ¶ 7 Kirn was subsequently charged with two felony counts of assault on a peace officer by causing reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury by use of a weapon. The matter proceeded to a jury trial. At the close of the State's case, Kirn moved to dismiss the case for lack of sufficient evidence. His motion was denied, and Kirn was convicted. Kirn timely appeals the denial of his motion to dismiss for lack of sufficient evidence.