BILLINGS, MT – A woman in Montana has been taken into custody following an incident where she allegedly drove her vehicle into a religious group that was demonstrating on a sidewalk. The incident resulted in minor injuries to one man, according to reports from local law enforcement on Sunday.
The woman, identified as 55-year-old Genevienne Rancuret, was apprehended by the Billings police department several hours after the incident, which occurred on Saturday. Rancuret now faces serious charges, including felony assault with a weapon – her vehicle, felony criminal mischief, and driving under the influence. At this time, it is unknown whether Rancuret has legal representation to defend her in court.
The victim, a 45-year-old man, was part of the religious group known as ‘Israelis for Christ.’ The group was actively demonstrating at the time of the incident, holding up signs and using an amplifier to broadcast their message to the public. Despite being struck by the vehicle, the man’s injuries were reported as minor, according to Police Spokesperson Lt. Matt Lennick.
Lt. Lennick also stated that he did not have enough information to speculate on a possible motive for the incident. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
In a recent update, the police department revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in conjunction with local prosecutors, is also reviewing the incident. This suggests that the federal agency is investigating whether the incident could be classified as a bias-motivated crime. Bias-motivated crimes, also known as hate crimes, are instances committed against individuals or groups based on their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
The incident has raised concerns among local community members about the safety of public demonstrations and the potential for violence against religious groups. The ‘Israelis for Christ’ group has not issued a public statement about the incident as of yet.
The arrest of Rancuret comes at a time when the United States is grappling with a rise in hate crimes. According to data from the FBI, hate crimes in the U.S. reached their highest levels in more than a decade in 2019. This incident in Montana could potentially add to these troubling statistics, pending the outcome of the FBI’s investigation.
The Billings Police Department urges anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They are especially interested in speaking with anyone who witnessed or captured the incident on video.