Sheriff asks public to 'keep an open mind' in assault case

Cascade County Sheriff Bob Edwards will be taking personal leave and asked the public to "keep an open mind" while his assault case continues through court proceedings, according to a Monday statement from his attorney. 

According to the statement by attorney Nathan Hoines, Edwards, a 25-year veteran of the Cascade County Sheriff's Office, asks "everyone to keep an open mind, respect his privacy and let this case process through the legal system."

The Monday email, sent by Hoines, was the first message from Edwards on the incident since he was cited on June 15 with misdemeanor partner family member assault for reportedly pushing his girlfriend into a TV stand, inflicting pain. According to the Helena Police Department citation, the incident occurred at 5:25 p.m. at the Radisson Colonial Hotel. 

"Sheriff Bob Edwards is still the sheriff of Cascade County, and has been a dedicated servant in the Cascade County Sheriff's Office for 25 years," the statement reads. 

"Sheriff Edwards is going to take some personal time off while this process is ongoing. It is Sheriff Edwards' intention to return to work in his full capacity as Sheriff. All matters relating to the Sheriff's Office shall be directed to the Undersheriff, John Stevens."

When called soon after the email was sent for further comment regarding the statement and Edwards' case, Hoines' secretary told the Tribune he had already left for the day. 

Cascade County Chief Civil Deputy Attorney Carey Ann Haight confirmed that Edwards will be paid during his leave.

"He's an elected official," she said. "Unlike other employees that earn vacation time, sick time, compensatory time, he's paid as an elected official. As long as he's in office he's paid salary."

Edwards was at the annual Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association's convention, which was attended by about 200 law enforcement officers when the incident occurred last week. The call logs from Helena dispatch show the 9-1-1 caller reported a partner family member assault and heard a "female yelling about a gun." Police records also state that the caller "heard her screaming about (the) male throwing her into TV."

The caller is identified in call logs as Flathead County Detention Commander Jennifer Anderson Root, who was joined by law enforcement officers from Flathead and Garfield counties.

The call logs also state that the man "put the gun in his mouth at one point." Helena Police Chief Troy McGee on Friday confirmed with the Tribune that Edwards was the one holding the gun in the incident, although he added that the information was given by others on the scene and was not witnessed by Helena police. 

On Monday, McGee directed all questions to the Helena City Attorney's Office. Helena prosecutors have not yet responded to a list of questions submitted by the Tribune late Monday. 

Helena Municipal Judge Robert Wood returned to city Thursday night after regular hours to allow Edwards to make an initial appearance and enter a not guilty plea in the incident.

On Monday, Wood told the Tribune the conditions of Edwards' release stated he must remain law abiding, cannot contact the victim in the case and cannot drink alcohol. Edwards is still allowed to carry a firearm and was released on his own recognizance, Wood said.

"That's pretty standard of these cases," Wood said of Edwards' conditions. 

Edwards' next hearing in Helena city court will be an omnibus hearing that is currently set for July 19. 

Cascade County Commissioner Jane Weber on Monday told the Tribune that while Edwards' case is unfolding, the county is operating the sheriff's office as "business as usual."

"My business as a county commissioner is to ensure that public safety is happening and our citizens remain safe, and I can assure you they are," she said.

Weber declined to comment when asked if Edwards should have made a public statement earlier than late Monday, four days after the incident. 

Cascade County Undersheriff John Stevens did not return calls seeking comment on Monday. 

At press conference on Friday, Stevens said he is charged with keeping the sheriff's office on track in Edwards' absence. 

"As the undersheriff it's my position and my job to make sure the sheriff's office continues in the same direction we're headed," Stevens said Friday. "I will assure the citizens of Cascade County they will not see any different from last night to today to the services they are getting."

Eric Sell, a spokesman for the Montana Department of Justice, said the state agency has not been contacted about getting involved in the incident. The DOJ would not likely seek to get involved, he said, unless a conflict of interest came up, which could have been perceived had the incident occurred in Cascade County. 

Sell did say, however, that an agent of the DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation who has been in law enforcement for 40 years said he could not recall an instance in which a sheriff was charged with partner family member assault. 

Pat Roos, undersheriff for Custer County and president of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, said he did not see the incident at the Radisson Colonial Hotel, but said the information in the report was unprecedented. 

"Nothing like this has ever happened before," he said.