Month: March 2015

BELGRADE, MT- The Belgrade Police Department, along with the Lake Charles, Louisiana Police Department, are asking for your assistance with a case involving a missing and possibly endangered child. Fourteen year-old Keelye August, pictured below, was last seen in her home town of Lake Charles, Louisiana. According to Detectives, a bus ticket was purchased for her by a male using the name “Ronald Morgan”. She was due to arrive in Belgrade on Sunday, March 29, and meet the male subject who claimed to be staying at the Belgrade Super 8 Motel. Officers and Detectives are following leads at this time but we ask anyone with information to contact the Belgrade Police Department at (406)388-4262, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Contact:

Sgt. Dustin Lensing

Detective Division

Belgrade Police Department

406-388-4262

For Immediate Release                                     Contact: Kerry O’Connell

3-31-2015, 10:30 AM                                        Phone: 406-582-2085

Several fire districts in the Valley have closed open burning in their jurisdictions due to the Red Flag Warning for our area today. These districts plan to reopen burning as soon as the weather makes it safer for controlled burns. The current forecast states that the weather will change by the end of the week. Burning will only reopen in these areas if the forecasted weather makes a difference to current weather conditions. If you have any questions, please call your local fire department.

The following fire districts are closed as of 10 AM today.

•  Amsterdam Rural Fire District
• Belgrade City
• Central Valley Fire District
• Clarkston Fire Service Area
• Fort Ellis Fire Service Area
• Gallatin Gateway Rural Fire District
• Gallatin River Ranch Rural Fire District
• Gallatin County Fire
• Manhattan Rural and City
• Rae Fire Service Area
• Sourdough Rural Fire District
• Three Forks Rural and City
• Willow Creek Rural District

Residents are reminded that when burning reopens, they should be extremely cautious when they burn. The current lack of moisture in the ground and in the vegetation creates conditions where fires can escape quickly. People should always have a water source nearby and monitor the fire closely. Immediately call 911 if your fire escapes your intended boundaries.

Permits can be activated at http://burnpermit.mt.gov if your fire district is still allowing open burning.

  
At around 850 this morning the Gallatin County sheriffs office received a report that CPR was in progress by a citizen on a 25-year-old male near the blue moon bar in big sky. Big sky fire responded and continued CPR while transporting the male to Bozeman deaconess. Last report is that the male is in ICU.
Information obtained during the initial investigation was that the male had taken heroine late the night before with friends. Detectives are investigating the incident.

Clarification To Shooting Incident:

The Belgrade Police Department wants to make sure the public is accurately informed on this incident.

There have been some reports from media outlets stating that multiple shots were fired and that a person inside the residence was struck. These facts are not accurate and have not been reported by the Belgrade Police Department. The facts are as stated: A shot was fired and the residence (meaning the home) was struck, not a person. The defendant has been charged, so far, with 3 Counts of Criminal Endangerment for the shooting incident. There may be more charges filed involving this incident, as the investigation continues.

A separate incident occurred, involving the same defendant, at another Belgrade residence during the same night. This incident resulted in the defendant being charged with Partner Family Member Assault. Additional charges may be filed on this incident as the investigation continues.

To be clear, no one was struck by a bullet and no injuries were sustained from the gun shot and the domestic disturbance occurred at a separate Belgrade residence than the one involved in the shooting.

There is not a risk to the public over this incident.

On March 26, 2015 at 01:13 AM the Belgrade Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance. During this course of this investigation the officers received information that the male, who was involved in the domestic, had shot at a Belgrade City residence. Officers located the residence and confirmed that the residence had been struck by a bullet. During the course of the investigation it was determined that this incident started over money. It was also determined that, at one point during the night, the male had also forced entry into the residence and confronted the occupants with a weapon. The male has been arrested in connection to this incident as well as a partner or family member assault. It has been determined that this is an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the safety of the citizens of Belgrade.

Belgrade Police Department Officers and Detectives are still investigating the events surrounding this incident and further charges are pending. As the incident is still under investigation, no further information is available at this time. Anyone with any information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Belgrade Police Department (406-388-4262) to make a statement.

On March 24, 2015 at approximately 08:20 a.m., Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a fight in progress involving gunshots in the Korner Club parking lot at Four Corners.  Deputies arrived on scene and two male individuals were detained.  No injuries were sustained from the gunshots.  One male received medical attention for a laceration received during the altercation.

Gallatin County Detectives arrived on scene and spoke with both individuals.  Upon follow up interviews, witness statements and processing of the scene, they determined a Road Rage incident had occurred on Huffine Lane.  The altercation occurred between the two individuals in the Korner Club parking lot.  A weapon was fired during the altercation and no injuries were sustained.

The two individuals involved in the altercation have both been cited for Disorderly Conduct.

For any further information please contact Lt. Arlyn Greydanus with the Gallatin County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office Detective Division.

Brian Gootkin would like to remind anyone who may be involved in a Road Rage incident to pull your vehicle to the side of road, obtain description on the suspect vehicle, and call 911.

(Bozeman, Mont.) At 8:22 this morning Deputies were dispatched to a report of a fight and gun shots in a parking lot at Four Corners west of Bozeman.  Initial information indicated that a road rage incident  involving two vehicles that turned into a fight followed by one party producing a gun and firing.  Deputies were on scene quickly and two male subjects were detained.  At this time one of the persons detained is being transported to the hospital for a laceration above his eye from the fight and not the result of a gunshot.  Detectives are interviewing witnesses and investigating the scene to determine what charges will be filed.

Any members of the public that may have witnessed any part of the altercation or driving that involved a black Ford Super Duty pickup and a dark blue Chevrolet Traverse this morning are encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Detectives at 582-2121.  Photos included courtesy of the Sheriff’s Office.#####

On Saturday March 14^th, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received news regarding the passing of former retired Deputy Sheriff Robert Campbell. Robert was in involved in a horse related accident located in the Elkhorn Mountains. Robert was employed with the Sheriff’s Officer from 1974 through 1995. Memorial services will be held Saturday March 21^st, at 1:00pm.

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.

(Bozeman, Mont.) At 5:30 this evening Sheriff’s Search and Rescue units were dispatched to the “College M” North of Bozeman for an injured 89 year old Bozeman man who had fallen.  Rescuers from Search and Rescue, Bridger Canyon Fire Dept and AMR ambulance responded, locating him about ½ mile up the long trail.  He was carried down using a specialized wheeled liter and transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.  Sheriff Gootkin applauded the volunteers for their response which had him to the ambulance in less than an hour from the time of call.  It is encouraging to see that outdoor recreation is being enjoyed by people of all ages in this county.  This particular gentleman is a veteran of three wars and is still very active.    Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office. #####