Author: dehlert

Montana Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run will be coming through Gallatin County in the next couple days.  Please contact Sgt. Jeremy Kopp for any questions at 580-3717 or Sheriff Gootkin.

At approximately 3:05 am this morning Dispatch received a burglar alarm notification at the Bozeman Deaconess Pharmacy in the meadow village of Big Sky.  A deputy arrived at 3:15 am to discover that the back door window had been broken out and someone entered the building.  Detectives are investigating the burglary.  There was a similar incident at the same Pharmacy on October 18, 2014.  If you have any information please contact our Detective Division at 582-2125.

In reference to the stabbing incident Monday, March 16, 2015 on Blackwood Road, the Sheriff’s Office is continuing with the investigation. All parties have been contacted and located and there is no concern to Public Safety. Sheriff Gootkin will be available for questions after 1:30 PM Tuesday, March 17, 2015.

Montana Auxiliary of Wives Behind the Badge, Inc. to host Christmas Ornament Contest Newly appointed director Jae Tankink has high hopes of making her first event a successful one.  Montana Auxiliary of Wives Behind the Badge, Inc. is hosting a Christmas Ornament Contest for children this holiday season.  In collaboration with local law enforcement, kids up to 12 years of age are encouraged to decorate an ornament to be hung in the Law & Justice Center starting December 08-December 23.  A drop box will be set up at The Law & Justice Center, 615 South 16th St., Bozeman, MT. Please be sure to tag your ornament with the child’s name, age and contact information.

Ornaments will be judged by Chief of Police Ron Price and Sheriff Brian Gootkin.  The contest winner will be invited to a personal pizza party with deputies and officers.  We are proud to be able to offer this to our community” Sheriff Gootkin For more information, email Jae at montana.auxiliary@wivesbehindthebadge.org or call 640-2409.

       The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office would like to formally thank the Gallatin County DUI Task Force in assisting with the purchase of three STALKER Radars. These radars were purchased to replace older models as well as help to make sure each Deputy’s vehicle has its own radar unit. Radars are great tools in combating DUI’s since the impaired driver is not able to concentrate on simple divided attention tasks like being aware of speed while he/she is driving. The Gallatin County DUI Task Force provided funds from their CEASE (Community Education & Activity Support and Enforcement) Awards program to make the purchase possible. This is another example of how your local Gallatin County DUI Task Force is teaming up with local law enforcement agencies to help keep our county safe from impaired drivers.

March 17, 2014

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of threats involving juveniles in Three Forks.  Rumors spread throughout the community via social media that someone was going to the school today to shoot students.  Our Office is investigating the allegations and there are NO facts supporting these rumors.  Parents kept their children out of school out of fear for their safety.  Sheriff Brian Gootkin reiterates that there are no facts substantiating the rumors and that the school is safe.  Please contact the Sheriff with any further questions or concerns at 582-2125.

PRESS RELEASE

Gallatin County Coroner’s Office

On March 7^th, 2014 at approximately 9:00 pm the Gallatin County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol responded to a single vehicle rollover accident on US 1-90 at mile marker 303 westbound.  The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was ejected and died at the scene due to blunt force injuries.  He was identified as 31 year old Shane Warner of Manhattan, MT.  

Montana Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the cause of the accident.

Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin reports that the Park County Coroner Al Jenkins has identified 57 year old, Steven Lee Groat as the individual who was involved in the shooting on Sunday morning, 2/2/14,on Tulip Avenue near Belgrade.  Groat was the owner of the residence from where shots were fired, with bullets entering a neighbor’s residence.  The neighbor was slightly injured but did not require medical attention for his injuries.  The Gallatin County and Bozeman Police Department Special Response Team was called to the scene and determined that Groat was deceased.  An autopsy was conducted today by a state medical examiner.  Jenkins says that the evidence at the scene and from the autopsy shows that Groat died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.  It appears the death occurred shortly after the shots were fired at his neighbor’s residence. 

For additional information Coroner Jenkins can be contacted through Park County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (406) 222-2050.

 The Gallatin County Sheriff’s office is looking for assistance in locating individual(s) involved in a burglary of The Round House located at Bridger Bowl Ski Area. Large amounts of merchandise were taken during the crime. Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to contact the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office at 406-582-2121 or they can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 406-586-1131.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of a recent string of scams that have occurred locally.  Scammers are calling local residents from a 406 area code and identifying themselves as law enforcement officers from various agencies, specifically the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.  They advise the victims that they have missed jury duty, and are subject to arrest if they do not pay related fines.  This is a scam. Do not send any money or give out any personal information.