Idaho fugitive shooting investigation continues

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) - A man who was shot and injured by an Idaho State Police officer during a traffic stop in February has been extradited to Montana, where authorities say he faces charges for walking away from a Helena prerelease center in October.

Mark Maykopet, 24, was charged with battery, eluding a police officer and being a fugitive from justice after a traffic stop in North Idaho that led to the shooting death of Maykopet's common-law wife, 40-year-old Christie Little of Butte.

But Kootenai County Sheriff's Lt. Stu Miller told The Montana Standard on Monday those charges were dropped because more time was needed to investigate the Feb. 7 shooting. The charges could be refiled later, Miller said.

Maykopet, also known as Mark Macy Jr., couldn't be held for more than 14 days without a formal charge against him. He was extradited to Montana on a felony escape warrant March 28 and is being held at the Montana State Prison, prison spokeswoman Linda Moodry said.

In Idaho, the Kootenai County sheriff's office is investigating whether the shooting was justified, and ISP Cpl. Dan Howard remains on paid leave.

In the police report, Howard said he stopped the Jeep because the driver was speeding and appeared to be under the influence of marijuana. The Jeep had a paper Montana temporary registration, but no license plates.

When Howard called in the stop, a dispatcher warned him that Maykopet had a felony warrant for escape and that the stop was considered "high risk." Cpl. Sean Lind responded to assist. After Lind arrived, Maykopet drove away and the two ISP units pursued him.

The report said Howard's car became temporarily disabled while chasing Maykopet and by the time Howard restarted his car, Maykopet had turned around and rammed the patrol car.

Howard fired on the vehicle, killing Little and injuring Maykopet, the report said. Detectives found two guns in the Jeep - a 9mm automatic with an empty 32-round magazine behind the rear seat and a .25 caliber pistol with an eight-round magazine under the passenger seat. The chamber was not loaded.

Maykopet's record includes convictions for car theft, drugs and issuing bad checks. Little's record includes time spent in prison for theft, wire fraud and identity theft.

Little also was wanted for failing to show up for a trial in Butte in October on a forgery charge. She had also spent time in prison for theft, wire fraud and identity theft.

Information from: The Montana Standard, http://www.mtstandard.com