Billings police once again find themselves having to defend their over-aggressive police tactics in yet another officer-involved shooting, except during this shooting, many videos are available from different angles that appear to show Billings Police Officer Zach Wallis 11-year veteran of the Billings police force and member of the SWAT team, may have committed murder in cold blood of a Crow Agency Indian minority man.
Was this shooting race motivated?
Possibly.
Was the over-aggressive force used unnecessarily?
Possibly
Is Billings Police St. John scrambling to cover up the fact that his officer murdered a man? Based on Corrupt Billings Police Chief St. John’s history, that question could be answered with a RESOUNDING YES.
So far the only thing that Billings Police Chief St. John has been honest with the public is that “Officer Wallis was placed on paid administrative leave, which is department policy for any officer involved in a shooting.”
According to several videos that are circulating around in the Billings public and social media, several videos show the suspect falling to the ground after an officer fired his Taser causing the suspect to fall helplessly.
Several of the videos show at least seven Billings police officers running towards the man as he is lying on the ground helpless and incapacitated by the Taser.
The suspect was writhing on the ground caused by the pain of being Tased. Billings Police officers approached the suspect quickly.
This is where the story takes a horrific turn.
Multiple videos circulating in the public and on social media, clearly show Billings police officer Zach Wallis shooting an un-armed man, as he was lying down on the cement sidewalk caused by being tased and not a threat to anyone, yet Officer Zach Wallis shot the man five times at close range while the man is still on the ground, and not a threat to the public or the responding officers.
This incident happened in 8 to 10 seconds and it left many in the public stunned.
Billings Police Lt. Matt Lennick claims that:
“Officers attempted to negotiate with that male. There was no progress… They attempted less lethal, it sounds like, in the form of a Taser, which was not effective,”
“At some point during their altercation with him and trying to take him into custody, one officer fired one of their service weapons and struck the subject.”
The Billings Chief of Police is going to have a tough time trying to sway his agenda to protect his officer who just committed murder.
Many in the public watched and recorded the use of unreasonable deadly force by Billings Police Officer Zach Wallis.
A Billings attorney David Dietrich, witnessed the shooting nearby from the front stairs of the Transwestern Plaza building where he was only about 40 feet away.
The Billings attorney David Dietrich seriously questions the Billings police’s use of force regarding this particular incident. He witnessed Billings Police Officer Zach Wallis murder a man.
“There didn’t appear to be any brandishing of the machete or even an attempt by him to access it in the sheath, which is where it was when he got Tased,” Dietrich stated. Attorney David Dietrich continued stating, “My god, I mean, what a level of force used under these circumstances… I didn’t even know he was dead until after because I had no idea that, that level of force was needed to subdue him because of the fact that he had been already effectively, Tased.”
The public now considers Zach Wallis a threat to public safety and security. Officer Wallis needs to be charged with MURDER.
Officer-involved shootings are always a sensitive and complex issue. It’s important to wait for all the facts and details to come out before making any judgments or conclusions. It’s also important to respect the families and loved ones of the victim, not the Officer nor his personal feelings especially when they commit what appears as a murder.
However, remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. It’s a tragic situation for all parties involved except Zach Wallis as he used unreasonable deadly force that caused the unnecessary death of a minority man.
The Billings public wants to strive for justice and accountability of Officer Zach Wallis yet working to also prevent these situations from happening in the future In Billings Montana.
Billings Police have hidden behind what is called their “Qualified immunity” This is another reason why “Qualified Immunity” needs to be abolished.
45-year-old James Bennett was the name of the man Zach Wallis Murdered.
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I have heard from a LEO friend of mine that the Billings Police are dirty. I guess he was correct.
This news article is really sad. No one is a winner
WOW, Billings has sure changed and not for the good either. Crime is at an all time high. The Billings police seem to be unable to handle crime appropriately
Well I am sure St. John taught these young officers to be aggressive, but this Zach Wallis needs to be brought in front of a court and prosecuted for murder. This is my personal opinion only
It is time for St. John to be retired as a public servant. We here in Billings think he is a major disgrace to the department and our community.
Has any one else noticed that St. John has basically turned our once loved police department into a department that the public hates, distrusts, and no longer respects? My whole neighborhood hate the police and if one was dying and needed help ALL OF US, would turn our back and walk away. Bastards!
Wow!!!
What is happening with our law enforcement officers?
It’s instances like this that makes the public NOT trust law enforcement.
It’s hard to have faith in what now seems to be a corrupt system.
What has happened to the professionalism that once prevailed throughout this honorable profession?
Where are the good guys?
We NEED you, law enforcement, to be the good guys and protect us, the public, and NOT cause us unnecessary harm/injury.
We NEED you to find your good guy hats and wear them with pride while you demonstrate honor for the privilege of wearing the badge.
Please do that soon.
We DON’T need anymore instances like this again.
When will it end
This mother fuck’n racist PIG.
Zach Wallis needs to be placed in prison for murder
Am so sick and tired of the bad attitudes the BPD have towards the public. It is about time that they get served Justice. I hope I get picked for a jury member if Zach Wallis is charged for murder. I would vote to send him to jail for life.
Wallis is my neighbor. I sure look at him and his family differently now. Am ashamed to lived on the same street no less same town as he lives in. 😩 ugh!
To all police Departments nation wide. Billings Police Officer Zach Wallis is a legal liability. DO NOT HIRE HIM on your force as he will bring shame to your department and community.
Most support the BPD but this is getting ridiculous.
St.John needs to be either fired or removed because he hires killers who are worse than the criminals they arrest .
Another example is Killer Grant Morrison.
BPD is loosing control of law and order when even their own break the law
Sad day in Billings.
My wife and I just noticed that in the video of KTVQ2 which shows the murder of that innocent man, Notice how the Officers approach the man on the ground in a shooting formation so that they could avoid any cross fire. Then notice the exact location of the murderer, Billings Police Officer Zach Wallis.
He was in the perfect position to shoot as the other Officers were all in a shooting position but avoiding any cross fire.
Yep, this man was murdered.
Officer Zach Wallis needs to be arrested, tried in a court and sentenced by a jury of his peers.
Ditto, except I want add that people need to arm themselves and exercise their 2nd Amendment right. Unfortunately, the Billings police are the public’s enemy, not the criminals.
The attitudes the police have towards the general public stinks. They have created thousands and thousands upon thousands of Yellowstone County residents who HATE THE BILLINGS BPD.
For those who are cop lovers, it is just a matter of time before you or your loved ones are mistreated or killed by the lawless Billings police.
Blame can clearly rest on St. John.
I saw him the other day. St.John looks really old and stressed out. Look at the bags around his eyes. 👀
Thank you media for watching every move the cops make. Your reporting helps keep the public safe and informed
It is sad that we as citizens of Billings have to be more afraid of the corrupt police than we are of the criminals. If you legally can, arm your self Billings. You cannot depend on the BPD to defend and protect you. Exercise your 2nd Amendment right.
Am putting article on blast to all my peeps