Department of Justice Press Releases

  • Published On: January 22, 2021

    It is with much sadness that we share that Sgt. Alex Betz passed away on January 16th, 2021. Alex was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma in late 2019. Every day until his passing he rose up to look his cancer [...]

  • Published On: January 15, 2021

    On January 14th, 2021 Trooper Connor Wager responded to a rollover crash south of Emigrant on River Road. After arriving on scene, he found a vehicle on its roof with the front end completely submerged in the Yellowstone River. The [...]

  • Published On: January 12, 2021

    HELENA – The Montana Department of Justice seeks applications for membership to the Tow Truck Complaint Resolution Committee from: • A representative of the tow truck industry from eastern Montana; and • A representative of the commercial motor carrier industry. [...]

  • Published On: January 8, 2021

    Montana’s Attorney General Austin Knudsen administered the oath of office for Steve Lavin who became the Colonel of the Montana Highway Patrol. Prior to his appointment to his position as Colonel, Lavin was a major in the Highway Patrol with [...]

  • Published On: January 4, 2021

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] On December 31st, 2020 Trooper Matthew Hudgins initiated a traffic stop for a suspended driver's license. The driver provided a fictitious identity, but Trooper Hudgins and dispatchers Emily Verbanac and Kim Much were able to establish his true identity [...]

  • Published On: December 16, 2020

    On behalf of Attorney General-elect Austin Knudsen, we are pleased to share the news that Major Steve Lavin has been selected to lead our agency into 2021 as our new colonel. Major Lavin’s extensive 28-year career in law enforcement as [...]

  • Published On: December 12, 2020

    On Saturday, December 12th, an MHP Sergeant was struck in his vehicle by a semi while investigating a crash on I-94 between Huntley and Lockwood. The sergeant was parked on the righthand shoulder of the road with his emergency lights [...]

  • Published On: November 18, 2020

    Troopers Armstrong and Wade recently responded to the scene of a vehicle fire. Upon arriving they noticed a semi-trailer aflame and the driver unresponsive in the cab. Together they pulled out the driver and Trooper Armstrong immediately started compressions while [...]

  • Published On: November 16, 2020

    At approximately 6:30pm on Friday, November 13, Stillwater County 911 received a report of a person throwing “flaming objects” from a car window on I-90 near mile marker 422. Multiple brush fires were reported along I-90 in the area. After [...]

  • Published On: March 18, 2019

    Lindsey Palmer, the wife of Trooper Wade Palmer, shared the following statement on Monday, March 18th, 2019: “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Montana and Utah for all of their support, and to all of the caring people [...]

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News Information:
Montana Department of Justice news releases are available online, with links to other documents, such as formal opinions and court decisions, when appropriate.

For more information, or to schedule interviews with Attorney General Austin Knudsen or DOJ staff members, reporters should contact one of the department’s communications officers at (406) 444-1776.

Available information may be limited by the Montana Criminal Justice Information Act of 1979 or by the status of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Direct media inquiries to:
Emilee Cantrell or
Chase Scheuer or
by phone: 406-444-1776.