Month: July 2011

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance in identifying the following individual. On June 26, 2011 at approximately 11:45pm this individual is seen illegally entering the Rocky Mountain Hobbiez store on Pollywog Lane and is caught on video removing items from the store. The Sheriff’s Office would like help in identifying the individual for questioning.

The individual appears to be a white male of average height and weight wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve shirt, Carhartt vest, sunglasses, white gloves, and a distinct trucker style ball cap with a large logo on the front.
anyone with information about this male, or the crime, is asked to contact the GCSO Detective Division at 406-582-2121.

Media/Public Release

Bozeman Police Department Crime Prevention Programs Office

July 28, 2011

 

On Tuesday, August 2^nd, at Lindley Park from 5 pm to 8:30 pm, neighborhoods and residents throughout Bozeman are invited to attend Bozeman’s National Night Out event.  National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know our neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

 

The Bozeman National Night Out event is presented by the Bozeman Police Department, Bozeman Fire Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Montana State University Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, American Medical Response, Montana Department of Transportation, the United States Forest Service, Child Care Connections, and graduates of the Bozeman Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy. 

 

There will be a bicycle safety rodeo for children; information on personal and home safety, Internet safety, fire safety, and general crime prevention; free gun locks; raffle drawings for a child’s bicycle as well as personal safety classes; fun contests for children with chances to win some great prizes from local businesses; tours of police and sheriff cars, search and rescue vehicles, fire trucks and an ambulance; Respect the Cage rollover simulator; child fingerprinting kits and many other fun activities for all ages.  Local banks will be on site to discuss identity theft and fraud prevention.  A variety of local food vendors will also be selling their delicious snacks and meals.

 

The Bozeman Kiwanis Stuff-a-Bus will be on location accepting new and gently used clothing, shoes, boots and winter items so that they can be distributed to families in the greater Gallatin Valley. 

 

This event is open to the entire community and there is no charge to attend.  For questions or more information about this event, please call the Bozeman Police Department Crime Prevention Programs office at 582-2234.

 

 

Lieutenant Mark Johnson

Bozeman Police Department

Support Services Division

34 North Rouse Avenue

Bozeman, MT 59715

Work/ 406.582.2245

Cell/ 406.581.9350

www.bozemanpolice.com2011_NNO Local Flyer

July 28, 2011
For Immediate Release

(Bozeman, Mt.) – Gallatin County Search and Rescue Units were busy Wednesday night with two reports of hikers lost in the Bridger Mountains.

One male hiker called a friend to say that he was lost while hiking in the area north of Sacajawea Peak. As SAR units were responding to the Fairy Lake area, that hiker met another lost hiker from Livingston. The pair managed to relocate the trail and met SAR units at the Fairy Lake parking lot.

Farther south and later in the evening a 32 year old Bozeman woman called 9-1-1 at 9:19 pm to report that she had become lost while hiking on Mount Baldy north of the M trailhead. SAR units were able to narrow the search for Ms. Schultz with the help of her cell phone. Wearing only shorts, a t-shirt and carrying a water bottle, she was not prepared for the evening rain showers and temperatures that fell during the search.

SAR units located her at approximately 11:45 last night. She was cold but otherwise unharmed. She was escorted to the M trailhead at 2:00 o’clock this morning.

“We had two good outcomes last night, thanks to cell phones and our SAR units” said Gallatin County Sheriff Jim Cashell. “Even a short hike in the woods can become a problem quickly,” said Cashell. The Sheriff notes the Montana back-country isn’t too far from our back doors, and that anyone looking to recreate there needs to be ready for the unexpected.

“Be sure you let someone know where you’re going, take a fully charged cell phone, water, some snacks and the appropriate clothing. Even in summer, a night in the woods or on the mountain can get very cold,” said the Sheriff. “A well-stocked fanny-pack with a first-aid kit can go a long way to help you if you get turned around in the back-country,” said Cashell.

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updates are in bold italic and photos are attached

Press Release
Lone Mountain Recovery
July 22, 2011 at 8:04 p.m.

(Big Sky, Mt.) – Gallatin County Search and Rescue workers have recovered the body of a skier missing since March.

According to Madison County Sheriff Dave Schenk, the body of 24 year old Brad Gardner was successfully recovered by searchers this morning in an area on Lone Peak called The Lone Lake Cirque located on the southwest side of the mountain.

“A lot of hard work, much of it performed under very steep and hazardous conditions, has resulted in a recovery,” said Sheriff Schenk. “We hope this brings some closure to Brad’s family and to the Big Sky community.”

A 13 member Gallatin County Search crew, including a RECO location device and a dog team, located Mr. Bradley’s remains at approximately 9:45 this morning. Sheriff Schenk says the investigation into Mr. Gardner’s death is underway.

“A Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s investigation are being conducted,” said Schenk. “That is standard procedure for any unattended death. Once that work is done, Brad’s body will be turned over to his family.”

The search and recovery was a cooperative effort between Gallatin and Madison County’s including their respective search and rescue groups. The effort included searchers from Bozeman to West Yellowstone, local ski areas, as well as air assets from the Montana Civil Air Patrol, Montana Department of Natural Resources and National Forest Service.

Mr. Gardner was reported missing on March 12th March of this year. He was last seen on March 9th when he told friends that he was going to make a solo ski trip to the Chippewa Ridge area, located adjacent to Lone Mountain.

His disappearance kicked off an extensive seven day search that was unsuccessful. Sheriff Schenk said today that searchers have been in the area frequently since that time, attempting to locate Mr. Gardner’s remains.

“Heavy and deep snow, bad spring weather, along with avalanche danger and rock fall hazard really hampered our efforts,” said Schenk. “But we said we wouldn’t give up and kudos go out to all the volunteers that sacrificed so much of their time and energy. We couldn’t have done it without them.” This search is already being considered as a case study to use in instructing search managers on extended search operations. ####
Photos Courtesy Gallatin County Search and Rescue

July 22, 2011 at 15:08

(Big Sky, Mt.) – Gallatin County Search and Rescue workers have recovered the body of a skier missing since March.

             According to Madison County Sheriff Dave Schenk, the body of 24 year old Brad Gardner was successfully recovered by searchers this morning in an area on Lone Peak called The Lone Lake Cirque located on the southwest side of the mountain.       

“A lot of hard work, much of it performed under hazardous conditions, has resulted in a recovery,” said Sheriff Schenk.  “We hope this brings some closure to Brad’s family and to the Big Sky community.”

A 13 member Gallatin County Search crew, including a dog team, located Mr. Bradley’s remains at approximately 9:45 this morning.  Sheriff Schenk says the investigation into Mr. Gardner’s death is underway.

           “A Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s investigation are being conducted,” said Schenk.  “That is standard procedure for any unattended death.  Once that work is done, Brad’s body will be turned over to his family.”

           The search and recovery was a cooperative effort between Gallatin and Madison County’s including their respective search and rescue groups.  The effort included searchers from Bozeman to West Yellowstone, local ski areas, as well as air assets from the Montana Civil Air Patrol, Montana Department of Natural Resources and National Forest Service.

           Mr. Gardner was reported missing on March 12^th March of this year.  He was last seen on March 9^th when he told friends that he was going to make a solo ski trip to the Chippewa Ridge area, located adjacent to Lone Mountain.

 His disappearance kicked off an extensive seven day search that was unsuccessful.  Sheriff Schenk said today that searchers have been in the area frequently since that time, attempting to locate Mr. Gardner’s remains.

“Heavy and deep snow, bad spring weather, along with avalanche danger and rock fall hazard really hampered our efforts,” said Schenk.  “But we said we wouldn’t give up and kudos go out to all the volunteers that sacrificed so much of their time and energy.  We couldn’t have done it without them.”  This search is already being considered as a case study to use in instructing search managers on extended search operations.  ####

Photos may be posted at www.gallatinmedia.org as they become available from the scene “Courtesy Gallatin County Search and Rescue”

Gallatin County Search and Rescue responded with the Sheriff’s Office today for a rescue in the area of Storm Castle Road and the Rat Lake trail.  A 44 year old female from Canton, Ohio was travelling on a four wheeler, went off the roadway and partially up an embankment.  The ATV rolled and landed on top of the driver causing back injuries.  Family members of the injured rider stayed with her while her husband went to the Shenango Helicopter base and called for help.  Members of the Forest Service responded to the scene and stabilized the patient until medical personnel arrived.  The patient was transferred to American Medical Response medics and she was transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital by ambulance.

 It is always advisable to wear safety equipment, know your location at all times and maintain communication between your group members while recreating in the backcountry.  This ATV rider was wearing a helmet during the crash, the husband knew their location and was aware of where to go for help.  These things all contributed to  the incident not turning into a tragedy.

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An updated release including photo is posted at http://www.gallatinmedia.org/

BIG SKY-  Search and rescue efforts to find a skier missing since early March continued Thursday and Friday on Lone Peak.  A ski pole that may have belonged to the missing skier, Brad Gardner, was found Wednesday afternoon in the Lone Lake Cirque.  Initial searches of the area were hampered by continuous bad weather, its remote location, and the dangerous conditions caused by the characteristics of the cirque.  The area is surrounded by nearly vertical cliff walls and the avalanche danger remained extreme during the time of the initial search.  

Ground teams accessed the area Thursday morning and searched the cirque with dogs and a RECCO unit.  The RECCO unit is designed to help find people buried in avalanches.  The searchers found the cirque floor still buried in very deep snow.  Searches probed the snow with nine foot long poles and were unable to find the bottom.  The snow was also extremely hard, heavy, and compact.  Searchers located another ski pole about half way up a cliff face but were unable to but were not able to access the location without using ropes.  Searchers were unable to locate any further signs of Gardner.

A search of the cirque was conducted from the air on Friday morning.  A U.S. Forest Service helicopter with Gallatin County Search and Rescue personnel aboard spent over an hour and a half combing the cliffs and areas not covered in snow inside the cirque.  They were able to get close enough to identify and photograph the ski pole on the cliff face.  The pole was also similar to the poles Gardner is thought to have been skiing with when he disappeared.  

Searchers are optimistic that the warm weather forecast for the next week will help melt the abundant snow still in the cirque.  Searches will continue in the cirque and elsewhere over the coming weeks as conditions and new information changes. 

The Sheriff’s office would like to caution citizens that the terrain in the cirque is treacherous.  Along with the dangers inherent in a remote, snow covered area, search teams have already had to deal with a steady barrage of rocks falling from the cirque walls.  The Sheriff’s office does not wish to see a well meaning effort result in another rescue.  “Safety is our primary concern now.  We want to bring Mr. Gardner home as safely and as soon as possible.  And we’ll do that, without putting anyone at undue risk.” said Lt. Jason Jarrett of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, adding “While our searchers train for dangerous situations, most citizens don’t.  We are hoping to prevent any further injury or even another death.”

 “Once we locate Mr. Gardner we are required by law to secure the scene, treat it with respect and care and conduct an investigation to try and determine cause of death, “ continued Jarrett,”  If the scene is compromised by well-meaning individuals, we may not be able to determine cause of death.  We need to know that…for the sake of the family, the community and to fulfill our requirements under the law.

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On Sunday, July 07, 2011, at approximately 8:45 pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and the Three Forks Marshalls responded to a water rescue on the Madison River.  An inflatable kayak struck a partially submerged cottonwood tree in the water and capsized upstream from the cobblestone fishing access ejecting the two female passengers.  The females were reported in the water and pinned to the tree.  The women were able to free themselves from the tree and get out of the water on the west bank of the River.  With help of local land owners and Deputies the females were located and extracted by vehicle from the west side of the river.  There were no reported injuries from this incident.   

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind boaters to not take the proper safety equipment including throw bags, life vests and first aid kits when enjoying the river.  As always don’t underestimate the power of the current.  Even and simple and familiar trip on the river can turn dangerous without the proper equipment, respect for the water and knowledge of the potential hazards. 

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(West Yellowstone, Montana)  Excellent inter-agency cooperation resulted in a back-country rescue involving an injured horseback rider this afternoon just outside of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

 

          Shortly before 2:00 o’clock this afternoon Gallatin County 9-1-1 received a call from the manager of the Covered Wagon Ranch, north of West Yellowstone in the Gallatin Canyon.

 

          A 64-year old female guest of the ranch from Hawaii on a guided horseback ride had fallen from her horse suffering head injuries.  The wrangler on the ride, in contact with the ranch by radio, reported the incident. 

 

The party was located near Monument Mountain, an approximately three to three and a half hour ride from the trail-head.

 

          A six-member horse and rider team from Search and Rescue staged at the Sage Creek Trailhead for a rescue.  Since there were no LifeFlight or other Helicopters available in the entire region, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies enlisted the help of a U.S. Forest Service Helicopter in Cody, Wyoming.  A U.S. Park Service Ranger who is also a paramedic and member of Gallatin County SAR was picked up at the West Yellowstone Airport by the chopper to care for the patient.

 

          The patient, complaining of head and back pain, was picked up at the Monument Meadow area at just after 5:30 this afternoon and flown to the Sage Creek Trailhead. From there the patient was taken by Big Sky Fire Dept. ambulance to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital at just before 6:00 this afternoon.

 

          “Thanks to the Forest Service chopper and the Park Service paramedic, we were able to avoid a long all-night rescue,” said GCSO Deputy Mark Murphy, Incident Commander on the rescue.  “It would have been a difficult, long and very uncomfortable ride out for the patient.  Instead, she’s getting the care she needs in Bozeman.”

 

          Deputy Murphy says radio communication also played a key role in today’s wilderness rescue.

         

          Those traveling in the Montana back-country, even for an afternoon, are advised to carry some form of communication, such as a radio or a satellite phone.      

 

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