Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: Sept. 13, 2022

Media contact:
Sandy Erhardt, Gallatin County Clerk of District Court
serhardt@mt.gov

 

Gallatin County Clerk of District Court’s Office Temporarily Reducing Office Hours

Due to short staffing, the Gallatin County Clerk of District Court’s Office is temporarily reducing its office hours to enable staff to maintain current caseload.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 19, the office will be open to the public 8 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday. The office is located on the top floor of the Law and Justice Center at 615 S. 16^th Ave. in Bozeman.

Duties of the Clerk of District Court’s Office include keeping records for District Court, providing marriage licenses, keeping minutes for court proceedings, filing all actions for every case filed in District Court, and more.

While the office will be closed to the public in the afternoons, staff will be on hand through 5 PM each day.

“Our staff will use that time at the end of the day to get caught up and ensure we are maintaining the caseload in our office,” said Gallatin County Clerk of District Court Sandy Erhardt.

Like many employers across the county, the Clerk of Court’s Office is short staffed. The office has a total of 14 positions, but is currently down four people and will be losing two more employees by the end of the month.

“We are heading toward a crisis situation with low staffing,” Erhardt said.

A drop-box will be outside the office for filing. You may also email documents for filing to GallatinCountyDCFilings@mt.gov.

For emergency situations, please call 406-582-2171 or 406-582-2169.

The reduced public office hours will remain in place until more staff are hired in the office. We will keep the public updated.

For information on job openings within the Clerk of District Court’s Office, and all other county departments, please visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/gallatinmt.

 

For immediate release: Sept. 12, 2022

The individual from the incident on Red Barn Drive on Sunday, Sept. 11 has been identified as 35-year-old Joshua John Holland of Belgrade.

This incident remains under investigation by the Montana Department of Justice as per protocol.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank all nearby residents for their cooperation and understanding during this difficult time. We would also like to thank Josh’s family for their kindness and understanding.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a mental health crisis, call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact the local Help Center for help and to be connected to resources.

Utilizing drones, shortly after 6:00 pm, the suspect was found to be deceased from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Those evacuated from their homes have now been allowed to return. We appreciate everyone’s patience throughout this event. Our thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time.

For media covering the ongoing incident in Landmark Subdivision in Belgrade, there will be a new contact for reporters.

The new GCSO Public Information Officer for the incident is Christine Koosman. Her cellphone is 406-589-7379. She is available by call or text.

For immediate release: Sept. 11, 2022

Residents who have been evacuated from their homes in the Landmark Subdivision and require retrieving medications or pets, or need a place to stay, can call our dispatch center to arrange access.

Evacuated residents can call 406-582-2100, option 2 to be connected to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office for assistance for things like retrieving medications or pets, or finding a place to stay while the evacuation is still in place.

We again thank residents for their patience during this ongoing situation.

For immediate release: Sept. 11, 2022

Law enforcement is currently working a situation involving a barricaded subject where shots were fired on Red Barn Drive in the Landmark Subdivision in Belgrade.

A shelter in place has been issued for those in the nearby area. Neighbors affected have been notified and law enforcement is working on evacuating those residences.

Red Barn Drive is closed between Harvester Lane and Stockton Way.

Please stay out of the area while this incident is ongoing. We appreciate the public’s patience as we work through this situation.

We will provide updates as soon as we can.

Agencies on scene include the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bozeman Police Department, Belgrade Police Department, Manhattan Police Department, Central Valley Fire District, Gallatin County 911, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue, and Montana Highway Patrol.

Media: Please contact Whitney Bermes, GCSO Public Information Office, for information on where you can stage in the area. Call or text 406-595-8963.

 

PRESS RELEASE

North Cottonwood Rescue

On Thursday, September 1^st, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., Gallatin County Dispatch received a call from Park County for a lost person in the Fairy Lake area.  GCSO Deputies learned that about 10:00 a.m., two people were camping at the Fairly Lake Campground when one decided to take a ride on their dirtbike.  After becoming lost on some trails, and many hours of trying to find their way back, the lost party was able to contact the remaining camper who eventually called for help.

 

Once notified, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Valley Section was able to send a locator through their mapping system to get an exact location on the missing party. Based on this information, SAR teams deployed to the North Cottonwood Trailhead to hike to the area of the missing person. Two teams departed up the trail, one hasty team to reach the patient as quickly as possible, followed by a team with additional medical supplies and the one-wheeled litter.  Just after dark the hasty team made contact with the party and assessed the patient, who had sustained minor injuries, was dehydrated, and was suffering from exhaustion.

 

Rescuers provided medical aid and sustenance to the patient.  After a short recovery time the patient was able to hike under their own power 5 miles to the trailhead where they were reunited with their family.

 

Sheriff Dan Springer reminds backcountry users to use caution when in the backcountry.  Make sure to tell people where you are going and when to expect you back.  Enjoy the backcountry with other people when possible and carry a means of communication with you.

 

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Lionhead ATV Crash

On August 26, 2022 at 7:37 pm, the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a call for an injured ATV rider who missed the trail and crashed near Junction 8 on the Lionhead Trail.  The injured party was bleeding from a lacerated leg and a tourniquet had been applied.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the West Yellowstone Section responded to the scene and treated the patient before transporting back to town. An ambulance from Hebgen Basin Fire Department received the patient, accessed and treated the injury, and transported to Air Idaho at the West Yellowstone Airport.  The patient was ultimately transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further care.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind recreationalists that even a nice afternoon ride may not go as planned so take plenty of water, sun screen, a first aid kit, reliable communications and be prepared for any weather so you are prepared for an unexpected adventure.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

Today, at approximately 8:30 am, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a 47 year old male who had gone missing yesterday and was last seen in the River Rock area. At approximately 3:40 pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office used a drone to fly over the River Rock pond. A deceased body was located near the shoreline. The cause and manner of death are unknown at this time. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The Sheriff’s Office will release further information as it becomes available. There is no known threat to the surrounding area or other members of the community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sheriff Dan Springer
406-582-2125

Montanans: Plan for a Sober Ride and Help Everyone Get Home Safely This Labor Day Weekend Law Enforcement is planning increased patrols in Gallatin County over the holiday weekend. Residents are encouraged
to plan for a sober ride home.

August 18, 2022, – As the Labor Day weekend approaches, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) are encouraging Montanans to plan for a sober ride home before celebrating. Labor Day weekend marks the end of the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” for traffic safety in Montana. Law Enforcement will be increasing patrols across the state and making DUI arrests to ensure every Montanan gets home safely. Local Law Enforcement agencies, the MHP and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) are committed to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Montana’s roadways during busy holiday weekends.

If drivers have a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or higher, they could receive a DUI and other serious consequences, including having their driver’s license revoked, being required to take mandatory classes, and receiving possible jail time and up to $10,000 in fines and legal fees.

“If you’re drinking this holiday weekend, be sure to make a plan for a safe ride home before going out,” says Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer. “There are lots of ways to plan a sober ride. Designate a sober driver, arrange a rideshare service/cab/public transportation, or call a friend or family member to pick you up. Assist your friends in returning home safely”.

Why are Montana’s state and local law enforcement on high alert during the holiday weekend? These are Montana’s sobering statistics for 2020:

• Impaired driver crashes in Montana accounted for 10% of all reported roadway crashes in 2020, but 66% of all roadway fatalities.
• In 2020, 99% of impaired driver roadway deaths occurred in rural crashes.
• 77% of impaired roadway deaths in 2020 involved a male driver with a BAC above 0.079.

“Do not drive impaired – it’s dangerous for everyone on the road. We’ll have increased patrols out Labor Day weekend to keep Montanans safe as they travel to and from their activities in these final days of summer,” said Montana Highway Patrol Colonel Steve Lavin. “Have fun, but please be responsible as you spend time with your friends and family. Together we can make sure everyone gets home safe.”

Montana Department of Transportation — Vision Zero
This is a Vision Zero message from the Montana Department of Transportation. This and other enforcement and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero — zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Janet Kenny, Montana Department of Transportation, 406-444-7417 or jakenny@mt.gov.
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Alternative accessible formats of this document are provided on request. If you need an alternative format, contact the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Avenue, PO Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620. Telephone 406-444-5416 or Montana Relay Service at 711.