Greer man dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound during encounter with officers

A Greer man died during an encounter with law enforcement Monday night at View Point near Dworshak Dam, according to Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz.

At approximately 9:47 p.m. the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office received a report of a male subject who appeared intoxicated at Sunset Mart in Orofino. The reporting party saw him get into a vehicle and drive down Riverside Ave. towards Ahsahka, Goetz said.

An Orofino Police Officer was dispatched to try to locate the vehicle. The officer located the vehicle near Ahsahka and followed it up the View Point Rd. until the vehicle stopped at the View Point of Dworshak Dam. The officer got out of his vehicle and made contact with the driver, Russell Haueter, 57 who lives near Greer, according to Goetz.

Shortly after the officer contacted Haueter a Clearwater County deputy arrived at the scene. Haueter was given field sobriety tests and was going to be arrested for driving under the influence, Goetz said.

When Haueter was putting some of his belongings into his vehicle, he retrieved a handgun. Haueter fired one round from his handgun and the deputy fired multiple rounds. Haueter died at the scene and neither the OPD officer or CCSO deputy were injured. After preliminary investigation it appears that Haueter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Idaho State Police are conducting the investigation, Goetz concluded.