Task force arrests 2 convicted felons on prison-release violations

By ZACH BENOIT
Of The Gazette Staff

After a brief foot chase on Friday, officers with the Montana Violent Offender Task Force arrested a convicted felon in Great Falls for violating the conditions of his supervised release from federal prison.

Julio Gonzalez, 33, was arrested after a warrant was issued out of U.S. District Court. U.S. Marshal's Chief Deputy Rod Ostermiller said members of the task force tracked Gonzalez, of Billings, to a home in the 3400 block of Third Avenue North in Great Falls.

When officers tried to handcuff him, Gonzalez left the house through a bedroom window and ran, Ostermiller said. Officers followed and, after several commands were given ordering him to stop and "deputies got into a scuffle with him," they used Tazers to stop Gonzalez, Ostermiller said.

He was booked into the Cascade County Detention Center. Gonzalez has felony convictions for assault, probation violation, distribution of controlled substances and carrying a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. The U.S. Marshal's Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Probation Office participated in the arrest.

The task force also arrested a convicted drug dealer in Billings on Friday. Ostermiller said a warrant was issued for Raymond Best, 51, after he was arrested for driving under the influence on Feb. 7, a violation of his supervised release from federal prison.

Officers received a tip that he may have been at a home in the 100 block of Lewis Avenue. On their way there, they spotted a car believed to belong to Best's girlfriend. They also noted that a passenger in the vehicle matched Best's description. They pulled the car over at the intersection of Second Avenue North and North 34th Street, identified Best and arrested him.

Best, of Billings, was booked into the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. Ostermiller said Best's criminal history includes convictions of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, criminal sale of dangerous drugs and several misdemeanors.


Published on Saturday, February 21, 2009.
Last modified on 2/21/2009 at 12:05 pm


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