Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: Jan. 27, 2023

Press Availability: Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell will be available to take questions from reporters today, Friday, Jan. 27, at 1:30 PM at the Law and Justice Center, located at 615 S. 16^th Ave. in Bozeman.

 

Gallatin County Attorney Withdraws Notice of Intent to Seek Death Penalty in West Yellowstone Homicide Case

Audrey Cromwell, Gallatin County Attorney, filed a Withdrawal of Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty today in the Patricia Batts case. See the full filing here.

Batts is charged with deliberate homicide, aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment and strangulation of partner or family member, all felonies, related to the death of her 12-year-old grandson, James Alex Hurley, in West Yellowstone in 2020.

“After consultation with law enforcement, with the victim’s mother, and with the Attorney General Prosecution Services Bureau, we have decided the best way to proceed in this case is to withdraw the death penalty designation. The victim’s mother is in agreement with this decision,” Cromwell said.

“My heart goes out to Alex’s mom and brother. As a parent, I cannot think of anything worse in life than losing your child in the manner inflicted on Alex. There’s nothing worse that could have happened to him. It is critical that we move this case forward to seek justice for Alex in a way that will put an end to this years-long litigation and will provide closure to the family and law enforcement,” Cromwell said.

Montana is one of 24 states that allows capital punishment — 23 states have abolished the death penalty and three others have a governor-imposed moratorium on death as punishment, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The last execution in Montana happened in 2006 and two people are now on death row in the state, according to DPIC.  However, a 2015 injunction by District Court Judge Jeffrey Sherlock has put a moratorium on executions in Montana indefinitely.

The average death penalty case takes 12 years, including appeals for post-conviction relief. The costs of these highly litigious cases – including the time of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and court reporters, and the high costs of briefs – are mostly borne by the taxpayer. Death penalty cases in Montana cost taxpayers approximately $2.2 million per case.

“Death penalty factors increase the time and cost of administering justice. We can secure justice for Alex through a sentence that includes life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. And the millions in taxpayer dollars that would have been used on the death penalty case can be redirected toward crime prevention and response so that what happened to Alex never happens to another child in our county,” Cromwell said.

Two other people were charged and pled guilty in connection with Alex’s death. James Sasser Jr., 49, pled guilty to felony deliberate homicide, felony child endangerment and felony tampering with a witness in August 2021. Judge John Brown sentenced him to serve 100 years for the homicide charge and 10 years each for the child endangerment and tampering charges.  James Sasser III pled guilty to felony deliberate homicide and, in October 2020, was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections until he is 18 years old.

Batts’ jury trial is currently scheduled for July 10 through Aug. 4, 2023.

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PRESS RELEASE

INJURED SNOWMOBILER JUNCTION 16

On Thursday, January 26, 2023, the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call requesting assistance for a snowmobiler who had suffered a possible broken arm after striking a tree. The coordinates retrieved from the 911 call indicated that the incident was located southwest of West Yellowstone near Junction 16.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Custer Gallatin National Forest Service, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District responded to assist with the rescue.

Volunteers located the crash scene near coordinates provided by a passing snowmobiler who stopped to assist the injured party. Volunteers quickly packaged the injured snowmobiler into a specialized enclosed Snowbulance and transported them to a waiting Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District ambulance.  The injured snowmobiler was transported to the Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center for further evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the passing snowmobiler for stopping to assist. The updated 911 coordinates received from the passerby allowed rescuers to locate and care for the patient more quickly.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE 

Buck Ridge Rescue

On January 25, 2023, at 10:51 am, Gallatin County dispatch received a call that a snowmobiler had sustained a leg injury on Buck Ridge Trail near mile marker 13 in Big Sky.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section volunteers responded to the scene by snowmobile with a specialized rescue sled. The patient was medically assessed and packaged on scene before being transported to the trailhead.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind winter recreationalists, that even a ride out on the trail can become an emergent issue. He would like to commend the riders for having the ability to quickly communicate the emergency to get help on the way and encourages recreationalists to have a fully charged cell phone or some other communication device in case of an emergency.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

 

For immediate release: Jan. 25, 2023

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov
406-595-8963

 

Public-Private Partnership Raising $4.5 Million for HRDC’s Homeward Point

Local governments, banks and businesses across Gallatin County have come together to support the Homeward Point portion of HRDC’s Community Commons campus that will include space for people that are oriented toward home or on their way home, or in other words, in need of a temporary place to stay.  

The Gallatin County Commission pledged $2.25 million from the county’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as a challenge grant to the county’s business community. Commissioners then worked with the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Bozeman, and First Security Bank President and CEO Jim Ness to challenge area businesses and organizations to match the contribution. 

In just over a year, more than a dozen organizations have pledged $2.1 million and counting in matching funds, for a total of more than $4.35 million and counting toward Homeward Point. The groups are continuing to solicit donations from additional businesses with the goal of hitting $4.5 million.

“HRDC is excited to see collaborative partners leaning into this community problem and stepping up to support on the ground solutions,” said Heather Grenier, HRDC President/CEO. “While shelter is not the answer, it is a necessary landing spot to make space for working towards the solution, which includes housing that is affordable to the individuals and families that power this community. Together, we can facilitate change, save the lives of somebody’s brother, aunt, father, or grandfather, and create lasting solutions that contribute to better outcomes for everyone in our community.”

 

“Houselessness and urban camping is a wicked problem facing our community, and most others across the country,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “It is an emotionally charged issue for many with no simple solutions. However, this process of turning tough conversations and conflict into a tangible partnership has given me hope. This partnership makes me proud to live in the Gallatin Valley, and the Gallatin County Commission is so grateful to the members of the business community who met our challenge to take a step forward as a community.” 

Contributors of funds include:

• Gallatin County
• City of Bozeman
• Gallatin Valley Tourism Improvement Business District 
• Lone Mountain Land Company
• Bozeman Health
• Gallatin Association of Realtors
• First Interstate Bank
• First Security Bank
• Town Pump Foundation
• Stockman Bank
• American Bank
• Opportunity Bank
• Bank of Bozeman
• Montana Title & Escrow
• Rockin’ R Bar
• Kimpton Armory Bozeman
• Off The Beaten Path
• Security Title

“Building a solid foundation for all housing must begin with putting a hand out to those who may have run into a hard time in their lives and need help getting back on their feet,” said Daryl Schliem, Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce CEO. “Completing the funding match not only gives us a 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year Homeward Point for assisting those in need, but also builds a solid foundation to continue public-private partnerships to tackle other issues our community faces.”

“I am so thankful to be part of a community that recognizes problems we are collectively facing, and works together to solve them,” said Jim Ness, First Security Bank President and CEO. “We can accomplish so much more when we work together and collaborate. I want to thank the Gallatin County commissioners for recognizing the need and providing this matching grant, the City of Bozeman for their contribution, and to our wonderful business community for rising up to the challenge with their contributions. I am truly humbled and proud to be a part of this effort to address homelessness in our community.”

To learn more about or donate to the Community Commons project, please visit thehrdc.org/community-commons/. 

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PRESS RELEASE

Madison Arm Trail – Rescue

On January 24, 2023, at 11:10 am, the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a call for an injured snowmobiler on the Madison Arm Trail, five miles north of town.  The snowmobile accidentally left the trail and struck a tree.  The patient was complaining of chest and back pain.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue from the West Yellowstone Section and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District personnel responded to the scene by snowmobile with a specialized rescue sled.  The patient was assessed on scene before being transported off the trail to an awaiting ambulance.  The patient was then transported by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, ID for continued care and evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the large group of snowmobilers who stopped on the trail and assisted the injured individual with warming blankets and protected the sharp corner of the trail from other snowmobilers potentially crashing into the scene.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

In the early morning hours of Friday, January 20, 2023, the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office along with the Bozeman Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol investigated a fatal motor vehicle accident at the East Main interchange in Bozeman. The accident occurred when the semi-tractor trailer left the roadway, landing onto the railroad tracks below the East Main overpass. The two occupants of the semi were killed in the accident. The victims were identified as 33-year-old Abdiaziz Adan and 36-year-old Sharmarke Ali, both residents of Minnesota. The victim’s died of blunt force injuries of the head and abdomen, the manner has been ruled an accident.

Sheriff Springer wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Abdiaziz Adan and Sharmarke Ali during this time.

PRESS RELEASE

Riverside Trail – Rescue

On January 20, 2023, the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a call for an individual experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath while out snowshoeing on the Riverside Trail inside Yellowstone National Park, one mile east of the Town of West Yellowstone.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue from the West Yellowstone Section, Yellowstone National Park personnel, and Hebgen Basin Fire Department responded to the scene by snowmobile and specialized rescue sled.  The patient was assessed on scene before being transported back to town to an awaiting ambulance.  The patient was then transported by ambulance to the Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center for continued care and evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the snowshoeing individuals for immediately recognizing the need for medical care.  Traveling with others and a reliable means of communication allowed for an immediate response for assistance.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

 

For immediate release: Jan. 18, 2023

Media contact:
Tim Martindale, Director of Gallatin County 911
406-582-2092
tim.martindale@gallatin.mt.gov

 

Gallatin County 911 Records Resuming Regular Public Office Hours

The Gallatin County 911 Records Division is resuming regular public office hours this week.

Since October, due to short staffing, the records department has been closing to the public at 3 PM each business day to enable staff to catch up on records requests.

The department is now fully staffed, so beginning Jan. 20, public office hours will again be 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

Records is located behind the window at the main entrance of the Law and Justice Center (615 S. 16th Ave. in Bozeman). The department maintains records from the Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gallatin County Detention Center.

In addition to in person, records can be made online here.

For any records request questions, please call 406-582-2005.

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Sheriff Dan Springer and Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) has released the 2022 Annual Report.  The 2022 Annual Report contains statistics for GCSSAR missions and training.  Multiple missions are highlighted with applicable safety tips.  Many photographs and videos are included to provide a glimpse of our volunteers in action.

Sheriff Springer would like to thank all Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers for their dedication and professionalism as well as our community for your support.

2022 Annual Report (arcgis.com)

Media Release:

Capt. Scott Secor

scott.secor@gallatin.mt.gov

406-551-5172

PRESS RELEASE

STUCK SNOWMOBILERS TEEPEE CREEK

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 4:52 p.m. the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call from a snowmobile group requesting assistance. Two snowmobiles had become hopelessly stuck and the riders were attempting to walk out the Big Sky Trail, 12 miles north of West Yellowstone.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone and Custer Gallatin National Forest Service responded to assist with the search.

Volunteers located the snowmobilers who were cold and tired but in otherwise good health. After freeing one of the stuck snowmobiles, volunteers escorted the pair safely back to West Yellowstone.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the snowmobilers for carrying a reliable means of communication and for recognizing their need for assistance early, allowing volunteers to get to them quickly and safely.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.