Missoula, MT – A disturbing video showing a man beating a dog has taken the Gallatin County community by storm. Captured on a Ring doorbell camera on the night of Friday, December 20, the footage shows the man attacking the animal outside a home north of Bozeman, prompting an immediate investigation by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO).
The incident, which occurred on East Baseline Road near Walker Road, was reported to authorities Friday evening, with the video circulating on social media the following morning. By Saturday, the footage had been shared thousands of times, prompting local residents to express their outrage and offer assistance in identifying the suspect.
According to GCSO Captain Clint Harper, this type of case is rare for the area. “We don’t see this often; this one was an anomaly. To have it caught on camera was something that was known to us as well,” Harper said. The department has received numerous calls from concerned citizens who viewed the video, all eager to help identify the man in the footage.
While the video quality is relatively clear for a doorbell camera, the grainy footage poses challenges for investigators. “You get a Ring doorbell camera; it’s pretty good quality, but you can’t see a license plate. There are minimal things you can see in the video, so it’s difficult to follow up on those types of things when all you have is a 15-second video,” Harper explained.
Despite these challenges, the GCSO has already identified a person of interest in the case, although details remain scarce due to the ongoing investigation. Captain Harper emphasized that the case is being treated as an animal cruelty investigation, a crime that is rare in the Gallatin Valley.
The video’s widespread circulation has led to an outpouring of support from the local community. As of Monday, a GoFundMe campaign had raised $2,600, and a reward of $1,500 is being offered for information leading to the identification of the man in the video. “It is great for us to see that the community trusts us and is willing to reach out to give us information. We’ve had plenty of tips,” Harper added.
Animal abuse investigations in Gallatin County are infrequent, making this case particularly notable for law enforcement. The community’s rapid response and willingness to help authorities have been instrumental in advancing the investigation.
As the Sheriff’s Office continues to gather information, they urge anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. “We do have a person of interest that we will be speaking to shortly,” Harper confirmed. “I can’t say much more about it because it’s ongoing, but we’re working hard to resolve this case.”
