‘Transient’ Big Sky local shot numerous windows with BB gun causing more than $1,500 in damages
EBS STAFF
On Monday, May 20, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office arrested an individual and charged him with felony criminal mischief after causing more than $1,500 in property damage to six windows owned by four different businesses on Lone Peak Drive.
On April 30, the sheriff’s office received a report of a broken window at Big Sky Natural Health, likely broken the previous day. In the subsequent weeks, the sheriff’s office received more reports from nearby businesses on Lone Peak Drive, according to a signed affidavit released by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office after the arrest.
Two windows were broken on the doors of the former Choppers Grub and Pub, one at the Big Sky Resort Store, and two more at the Town Center Skyline Bus Stop.
“The windows on Choppers and Big Sky Resort Store showed the same damage pattern… the windows on the bus stop were gone completely,” the affidavit stated.
Investigating deputies found numerous gold/copper-colored BB pellets at the Big Sky Resort Store and the bus stop.
The shenanigans continued; on May 9, a witness reported someone shooting a BB gun from the bus stop across Ousel Falls Road into Len Hill Park.
“The witness provided a physical description of the suspect. The physical description matched the defendant, Shaun Brothers. The witness said the BB gun was a pistol,” the affidavit stated.
On May 20, an Ace Hardware manager called the sheriff’s office “to report a disorderly subject” and responding law enforcement encountered 34-year-old Brothers, who was wearing a backpack and allowed the responding deputy to retrieve a black pistol BB gun from the bag. The gun was loaded with the same gold/copper-colored BBs recovered from the broken windows.
The affidavit shows Brothers’ address listed as “transient” but based in Big Sky.
A sheriff’s deputy interviewed Brothers, who admitted he was shooting the BB gun on May 9 and that he was at the fire pit on April 29, the day before damage was first reported. He denied shooting the windows of the affected businesses but admitted to shooting the BB gun six to eight times and allowing others to shoot “in a safe location toward the ground” under Brothers’ supervision, according to the affidavit.
Brothers was arrested on criminal mischief charges on May 20 and transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center, held without bond.
“Brothers purposely or knowingly damaged the property of others without consent,” the affidavit asserted. He is charged with a felony based on damage value.
Affected businesses are still evaluating the damage, but the cost of replacing windows is expected to greatly exceed $1,500.
