HELENA, MT— Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in downtown Helena shortly after an encounter with Helena Police officers.
According to a press release from the Helena Police Department (HPD), officers responded to Cruse Park on Wednesday afternoon after reports of several individuals consuming alcohol in the park. City code prohibits alcohol consumption on city-owned property such as parks, streets, and alleys unless it is part of a permitted event.
Upon arrival, officers reportedly observed three to four individuals drinking alcohol and instructed them to clean up their trash and vacate the park. The individuals complied with the officers’ orders.
Shortly after the encounter, officers were alerted that a woman who had been in the park was lying on the sidewalk and appeared to be experiencing a medical emergency. Helena Police officers immediately began life-saving efforts and called emergency medical services to the scene. Despite these efforts, the woman was later pronounced deceased.
HPD confirmed that the woman was not in police custody at the time of her collapse and had complied with police instructions to leave the park.
The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
The Helena Police Department is conducting an active investigation into the incident in coordination with the Lewis and Clark County Coroner’s Office.
