Latest Bozeman News: Man Arrested After Wild Ride at Walmart

You really can’t make this stuff up. Things got wild at Walmart this week when Bozeman Police were called to handle a man who was reportedly swinging a walking stick, shouting at employees, and using a mobility scooter as a battering ram.

According to court documents, officers were called to the store just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 16, after reports of a man being aggressive and disorderly in the electronics section.

Wild Scene at Bozeman Walmart Ends in Arrest

When Officer Moore and Officer Nyquist arrived, they encountered 59-year-old Richard Elliott at the intersection of Oak Street and the Walmart parking lot. Elliot was holding a walking stick, and when instructed to drop it, he refused to comply.

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When officers approached Elliott, he reportedly ignored commands, continued shouting, and resisted arrest, forcing them to wrestle him to the ground. He continued to resist arrest, and a "wrap device" was used to take the suspect into custody.

Walmart security guards, who were interviewed following the incident, told officers that Elliott allegedly attempted to ram them with a store-issued mobility scooter before driving it straight into a display of Red Bull energy drinks. He was also reportedly trying to "scare people" and was approaching customers in the store with his walking stick.

He was booked into the Gallatin County Detention Center and charged with assault with a weapon, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief.

To their credit, the officers kept their cool in what sounds like an absolute circus of a situation.