Police Officer Arrested

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By Lindsey Scheetz

Story Published: Mar 13, 2010 at 6:40 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 15, 2010 at 10:45 AM MST

Laurel
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BILLINGS - A Laurel Police Officer was arrested late Friday night on charges of partner family member assault.

According to press releases from both the Billlings and Laurel Police Departments, officers responded just before midnight, Friday night, to reports of an assault on the 4500 block of Phillip Street in Billings. Police say a female had been assaulted and left the residence before they arrived.

The male suspect has been identified as Joel Sauter, Senior Patrol Officer for the Laurel Police Department. Police say Sauter was in the residence when police arrived, and was intoxicated and possibly armed with a handgun.

Members of the Billings SWAT and Negotiators Teams spoke with Sauter. Police say he eventually came out and was placed under arrest.

Sauter is a 12 year veteran of the Laurel Police Department and in the release was described as an "exemplary employee." Laurel Police Chief, Rick Musson, said he, "Feels for Sauter and his family, " and that, "the Laurel Police Department is doing whatever they can to support everyone that has been affected."

Sauter has been placed on administrative leave with pay, until the investigation is complete. No injuries were reported from Friday's incident.

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bob said on Saturday, Aug 14 at 12:47 PM

i live in a the town of dracut ma. where the police chief came to work sat at his desk and decided to take his service revolver and blow his brains out of his foolish head. How would you like this idiot to be in charge of your town?

matt frickel said on Tuesday, Mar 16 at 11:50 AM

Joel is a good guy who made a bad choice. S*** happens,Were all human, and we all make mistakes. He is innocent until proven guilty. He is also a good cop and does a great job. He is not a bully.No injuries reported, seriously it could not been that bad then. Cops are people just like us. The difference though is that they enforce the laws that dumb asses like us refuse to follow. If he gets slapped on the wrist its probably because its his first offense. Yes hes a cop of 12 years and that does deserve some leniency on his sentence. Im sure he learned from his mistake. Cops help there own, im sure its true, if your friends were in a bad situation i hope your friends would help you. Hes getting paid caus number one he hasnt been convicted. Number 2 its a misdemeanor S*** cut him a break. I'm tired of people calling cops pigs. Its just cause you don't like them cause there always catching you. Stop breaking the law and you wont need 2 hate them. There here to protect us.

a Friend said on Monday, Mar 15 at 12:47 PM

I have the utmost respect for Cops, there job is extremely difficult. But I know Officer Sauter and he is a bully. this isn't the first time this has happened with him. He has a drinking problem and he blames everything that happens to him on someone else. He needs to look in the mirror and see what he has become and take some responsibility for it. I fear for his family if this is left untreated.

A laurel resident said on Monday, Mar 15 at 9:57 AM

Iam not writing to stick up nesceesary for Officer Joel. To call the Laurel police department pigs and crooks with the judge well your mentality is sad at best and your attitudeis so rank people like you should live in the wilderness since your socal skills are lacking and you seem to anger at anything and go on a feeding frenzy when an officer has been arrested. We are all human we all can and make poor decisions. We have a system that works quite well on deciding what is right, what is wrong, and what the outcome will be. We need to allow The Laurel and Billings police departments to do the the jobs they are trained to do and that is to investigate, and bring the information they have collected to the lawers. The court system works give it some time before you want your pound of flesh

Anonymous said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 11:05 PM

Prayers are with the Sauder Family and to all those idiots who seem to think all officers are pigs and crooks. We are all human and make wrong choices at times that we have to live with. It's always easier to Judge than to be judged.

a friend said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 9:42 PM

Joel is not innocent until proven guilty, he is controlling and emotionally abusive.When he drinks he obviously gets worse. He has an illness that only he can change. He needs to be locked away so he cannot hurt his wife and kids anymore. If he isn't locked away it is just a matter of time before he really hurts them or himself.

Anonymous said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 6:31 PM

Oh sure a cop gets a PFMA and he gets called an outstanding citizen. Let a regular hard working American man get a PFMA and he's called a wife beater.

3FUF said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 5:43 PM

I think alot of people on here are forgetting that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Where is the proof that a physical altercation occurred? Don't be so quick to judge people. If I decided to start judging people right now, I would start with the ones throwing the word "pig" around. Are you sayign this because you were arrested for being an idiot or because you simply live in a day and age where people lack the ability to be civil and polite.

Smart said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 4:17 PM

Jeff I know you and you deserved everything YOU GOT! How many DUI's do you have to get before you kill someone?

Smart said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 4:15 PM

I know Officer Sauter and he is a good person and an even better cop. This just proves that cops get in trouble too. Don't call him a "pig" or a "crook!" That's not what or who he is! Just because he arrested you or your family doesn't make him a bad person. Obviously there was a reason for it! Let's just see how the story unfolds before you call him or the other officers names and especially our judge!

ursomethingelse said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 2:57 PM

It offends me that people refer to the police as pigs. The fact that his wife may not have needed hospitalization or an er visit does not mean she was not injured. People are abused every day and unfortunately, the only reason this is big news is because he is a public figure. They are not perfect but if everyone that abused their partner was in the paper everyday that would be top news everyday. Since none of the commenters were there on the night in question, I would surmise all comments are pure speculation. If he did something wrong he will need to face the consequences. Good luck to them, they will both need it.

Jessica Smith said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 2:22 PM

I don't feel for him, nor the department...for they are crooks worse than the actual crooks themselves. Those who have said anything about Sauters DO KNOW HIM. I remember how many times THEY had taken people I know and are close to to jail for NO APPARENT REASON..or because they were directed in the wrong direction. Anonymous probably don't know him or his family. THE LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT and THEIR JUDGE ARE ALL CROOKS!!!

3FUF said on Sunday, Mar 14 at 10:54 AM

The thing that bothers me is that there were no reported injuries and there was only a possibility he was armed. If a wife wanted to ruin her husbands career that would probably be the best way to do it. after all, you only have to claim that you were scared to bring a PFMA charge on your partner.

??????? said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 11:51 PM

please tell me why you can get paid vacation from your job for commiting a crime. that might be an incentive for more of the same

jane said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 11:47 PM

obviously something bad happened otherwise the swat team and more police than could be counted wouldnt have been there. i listened and watched the whole thing.police had their weapons drawn. the sad thing is the laurel police sounded like they were protecting their own, when they should be worried about his state of mind. being drunk is no excuse for breaking the law. i seriously doubt he would let anyone off the hook if the tables were turned. i hope he is treated like any other criminal and serves time in jail and i hope he looses his job. they should they should make an example of him because he had made a oath to serve and protect...would anyone feel comfortable being protected by him now? well thank god it ended peacefully for his family. joel.. hopefully the judge you see monday morning has had a bad start to his day and your the first one he sees.

smx said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 9:36 PM

If he is convicted I hope he is terminated.

joe said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 9:17 PM

hang the pig laurel cops are all crooks

jeff dykstra said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 9:11 PM

How does it feel when the cuffs are on you!!!

jeff dykstra said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 9:05 PM

looks like you finally get what you deserve!

Anonymous said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 5:21 PM

I don't excuse any kind of abuse - But seriously folks! We don't know the whole story only the limited details of what the paper and news are reporting. The fact that there were no injuries reported may lead people to wonder if there is more to this story. Most of our cops are good men and women dealing with incredibly stressful situations every day. They get lied to and scoffed at and yet they serve our city on duty and many times off duty. There are those in our society quick to call them "pigs" as Jack Kane wrote above but they are the first ones we call when there is a crisis. They deserve our support and respect not our disdain and I truly hope Mr. and Mrs. Sauter are able to pull their lives together and if there is an abuse issue, that they will seek help for themselves and their family.

GJ Fischer said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 2:10 PM

and if you think this is his first assault...most likely the only one he got caught at....Shame on him...now...who is going to "serve and protect" his wife?....just asking!!!

jack kane said on Saturday, Mar 13 at 12:24 PM

The pig will go unpunished; they look out for their own. Law enforcement attracts bullies and sadists. That's y so many cops are also wife-beaters.

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