Polson stunned by tragic suicide of former mayor

By Maggie Plummer

POLSON — This community was reeling last Thursday from the shocking news that former Polson Mayor Randy Ingram, 33, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound late Wednesday night (July 18).

Ingram had a blood alcohol content of .250 at the time of the suicide, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The shooting was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff's Department, as requested by Polson Police Chief Doug Chase.

The Sheriff's press release states that the following determinations are the result of that investigation:

"At approximately 11:30 p.m. July 18, Polson Police Officer Ernie Cahala was traveling east on highway 93 when he encountered a semi tractor/trailer stopped in the eastbound lane...east of the Port Polson Inn and directly across from Ducharme Park.

"The driver of the semi exited his truck and approached Mr. Ingram. He requested that Randy turn on his headlights. Said driver then approached Officer Cahala, as he arrived on scene, and advised him of (Ingram's) truck driving without headlights.

"Officer Cahala then approached the Dodge pick-up and encountered the driver, and sole occupant, Randy Ingram. After his initial contact with Mr. Ingram, Officer Cahala became concerned about Randy's ability to safely operate his vehicle. Officer Cahala and Lake County Sheriff's Office Patrol Sergeant Luc Mathias approached Ingram's vehicle and expressed their concerns, asking him to submit to some field sobriety maneuvers. Shortly thereafter, the officers head a single gunshot that came from within the cab of Ingram's truck. Medical personnel and back-up units were summoned immediately. Ingram was pronounced dead at the scene."

The sheriff's office investigative team seized the duty weapons of Officer Cahala and Sergeant Mathias, conducted gunshot residue tests on the weapons, took the two officers to St. Joseph Hospital for blood tests to see if they had any unauthorized substances in their systems, and seized the in-car video tape from Cahala's vehicle.

Ingram's body was taken to the State Crime Lab in Missoula, where he was examined by a state pathologist whose findings were consistent with that of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

All evidence in the case was presented to Lake County Attorney Mitch Young.

"The official finding in this case is that Randy Ingram's death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head," the press release states. "The manner of death is ruled a suicide. All evidence...shows that neither Officer Cahala nor Sergeant Mathias had any indication as to the intention of Randy Ingram to end his life. The investigation has determined no wrongdoing on the part of either Officer Cahala or Sergeant Mathias."

Ingram's sudden, tragic death shook the entire town of Polson, especially his friends and former co-workers at City Hall.

Many city employees left work at noon on Thursday, shaking their heads in disbelief at the news of the former mayor's death. Many find the suicide impossible to understand, and extremely out of character.

Randy was known as a wonderfully progressive, energetic, and intelligent man. As Polson's mayor for five years, beginning in 2002, he had a knack for getting cooperative projects in motion.

He was especially effective working with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, in spite of a history of difficulties between the Tribes and the City of Polson.

"Randy Ingram will be missed," Tribal Chairman James Steele Jr. said last Friday. "He was a good man who worked well with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He was an asset to the entire community. He helped heal the broken relationship between the city of Polson and the Salish-Kootenai Tribes."

Raised in Polson, Randy was elected Polson mayor at the age of 27, and re-elected in 2005. Then, roughly a year after being re-elected, he resigned as mayor because he was building a new house out of town and the mayor is required to live within the city limits.

Ingram had recently begun a new position at First Citizens Bank. He was a director of the Polson Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Community Development, president of Mission Mountain Enterprises, director of Polson Loaves and Fishes, and involved with Rotary, BPOE, Masonic Lodge, and Shriners.

He leaves behind a wife, a young son, and an unborn son.

Click here for Randy's full obituary.