A Turah man who is accused of firing a rifle over the head of a Missoula police officer who was investigating a report of vehicle break-ins has pleaded not guilty to attempted homicide charges.
Timothy Hoppe, 28, also faces misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass to vehicles, theft and criminal mischief.
Hoppe, who has a criminal record that includes misdemeanor assault charges, worked as a corrections officer at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge until September.
He was arrested October 8th for allegedly firing a 22-caliber rifle over officer Robert Campbell's head on Stephens Avenue.
Detectives said Hoppe acknowledged firing the rifle, but denied he tried to shoot anyone. No one was injured in the incident.
Hoppe remains behind bars on $250,000 bail.
(from the archives) A Turah man who tried to shoot a Missoula Police Officer Wednesday night is finally arrested after a short pursuit and even being hit by a baseball bat from nearby resident.
Tim Hoppe, 28, appeared before a judge Thursday and is facing a charge of attempted deliberate homicide for shooting at the Missoula police officer.
Charging documents say Missoula Officer Robert Campbell responded to the 900 block of Stephens Avenue to check out the report of a prowler.
After speaking to a nearby resident he headed back to his patrol car and heard a gunshot and the sound of a bullet whizzing over his head.
A neighbor who heard the disturbance encountered Hoppe in her backyard where she told him to drop the rifle he was carrying. She then hit him with a baseball bat as he approached her.
Hoppe took off running and was arrested by police a short time later. He told authorities he was drinking at a local bar but stated "he didn't mean to go off the deep end".
Police found his weapon, a .22 rifle at that was taken from a pickup truck.
Authorities have released the name of the man who was arrested following a late Wednesday night shooting in Missoula.
Tim Hoppe, 28, is being charged with Felony Assault on a Peace Officer after a shot landed near a Missoula police officer on Stephens Avenue. He's scheduled to appear in Missoula Justice Court on Thursday afternoon.
Police are still looking into the incident, which happened at around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 900 block of Stephens Avenue, near Addison Street.
Missoula police report that a concerned citizen called in just after 10:30 to report some suspicious activity, and after the responding officer returned to his cruiser just before 10:45 p.m., he heard a gunshot in the area which landed near the him.
Officers from the Missoula Police Department, Missoula County Sheriff's Department and Montana Highway Patrol then responded to the incident.
Police found Hoppe in the area of the incident, but authorities say that when he ran off when officers attempted to speak with him.
Officers then set up a perimeter and found Hoppe a little while later. He was then taken into custody.
Nobody was hurt during the incident, Police say they recovered a weapon at the scene and that alcohol was played a role in the incident.
Anybody who was in the area at the time of the shooting is asked to call the Missoula Police Department or Crimestoppers at 721.4444.
Missoula Police Lt. Scott Brodie told us Thursday morning that while three cars along the same block were broken into during the time of the shooting, he was not sure if they were related to the shooting.
- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula with information from Robin O'Day
