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The search for Amy Harding: Dispatch log from 911 call

Posted at 5:43 PM, Feb 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-21 09:07:53-05

The Cascade County Attorney's Office on Thursday released the dispatch log from the 911 call made by John VanGuilder the night that Amy Harding-Permann was reported missing.

The 911 call came in at around 8 p.m. on the night of January 26th. The caller - Harding's boyfriend, John VanGilder - said that she was intoxicated and throwing punches at him before she left the house. About an hour later, Search and Rescue was put on standby for a possible river rescue.

They also put a call out requesting that a thermal imager be put on standby as well. About two and a half hours after Harding left the house, officials tried to ping her phone and also contacted family and friends, to no avail. Search and Rescue deployed crews to cross the river to sure sure it was safe for other crews. Nearly four hours into her disappearance, Homeland Security was called to see if they could do a fly-over with their thermal imager; unfortunately, they learned the helicopter was down for maintenance.



Harding was officially listed as a missing person just before 4 a.m.
Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter told MTN News on Wednesday that they're continuing to explore numerous leads in their investigation into her disappearance.

He says officers will likely be doing a helicopter search this weekend, following up on several possible leads. If you have any information about Amy’s whereabouts, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 406-454-6979.

Here is an excerpt from the Dispatch log of the timeline:

01/26/20 20:20:41 | SAYS SHE KEEPS JUMPING ON HIM
01/26/20 20:20:48 | AMY HERMAN IS FEMALE
01/26/20 20:20:59 | NO WEAPONS
01/26/20 20:21:03 | CP SAID SHE MAY BE LEAVING
01/26/20 20:21:05 | D spatch
01/26/20 20:21:08 | IS HIGHLY INTOX
01/26/20 20:21:16 | DRIVES A RED COLORADO
01/26/20 20:21:28 | 2-31, 2-44 | D spatch
01/26/20 20:22:11 | PHONE KEPT CUTTING OUT- CALL DROPPED
01/26/20 20:22:23 | BACK INSIDE NOW
01/26/20 20:22:27 | FIGHTING CP
01/26/20 20:22:32 | HITTING CP AND THROWING PUNCHES
01/26/20 20:23:01 | Arr ved
01/26/20 20:23:07 | UNABLE TO STAY SEPARATED FROM HER
01/26/20 20:23:51 | REF MED
01/26/20 20:28:53 | 2-31, 2-44 | Arr ved
01/26/20 20:32:52 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-44 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 20)
01/26/20 20:54:34 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-44 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 15)
01/26/20 21:09:58 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-44 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 30)
01/26/20 21:14:45 | 2-09 | Arr ved
01/26/20 21:20:37 | 2-09 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 15)
01/26/20 21:29:50 | 2-37 | D spatch
01/26/20 21:35:11 | STANDY SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR POSSIBLE ICE RESCUE
01/26/20 21:40:36 | 2-37 | Arr ved
01/26/20 21:40:52 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-09, 2-37, 2-44 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 30)
01/26/20 21:41:10 | 2-21, 2-42 | D spatch
01/26/20 21:41:13 | 2-21, 2-42 | Arr ved
01/26/20 21:42:01 | SAR1 | D spatch
01/26/20 21:42:43 | SAR1 STANDBY PAGE SENT OUT
01/26/20 21:44:36 | BAT1 ON STANDBY WITH THERMAL IMAGGER IF NEEDED
01/26/20 21:46:25 | UPDATED SAR1 TO MEET AT 343 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 21:47:00 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-37, 2-44, 2-09, 2-21, 2-42 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 30)
01/26/20 21:48:15 | SAR 30 ACK PAGE
01/26/20 21:48:26 | SAR 10 ACK PAGE
01/26/20 21:48:54 | SAR 17 ENR TO SCENE
01/26/20 21:49:25 |SAR1 | Enroute
01/26/20 21:54:57 |SAR 25 ENR TO TRAINING BUILDING
01/26/20 21:57:28 |GFES ADV OF THE SITUATION
01/26/20 22:00:04 |306, 309, 299, 348 | D spatch
01/26/20 22:05:14 |2-31, 2-44 | Ava ab e
01/26/20 22:05:34 |SAR 36 ENR TO BUILDING TO MEET WITH SAR 25
01/26/20 22:07:33 |306, 309, 299, 348 | Arr ved
01/26/20 22:13:51 |SAR 25/36 ENR TO SCENE WITH SAR VEH
01/26/20 22:14:29 |306, 309, 299, 348 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 20)
01/26/20 22:17:28 |2-21, 2-42, 2-09, 2-37, 2-32 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 60)
01/26/20 22:19:22 |406 799 5877 PER BOYD TRY AND PING PHONE
01/26/20 22:19:28 |2-01 | D spatch
01/26/20 22:20:57 |AMY PHONE WITH AT&T
01/26/20 22:21:12 |SAR1 | Arr ved
01/26/20 22:22:43 |2-01 | Arr ved
01/26/20 22:32:24 |CONTACT 325 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 22:33:15 |Check Status
01/26/20 22:38:40 |C ear A arms
01/26/20 22:45:07 |306, 309, 299, 348 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 30)
01/26/20 22:46:10 |SAR DEPLOY ICE GUY TO CROSS THE RIVER TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE THENWILL ESCORT 32
01/26/20 22:46:53 |21 IS AT 317 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 22:54:24 |2-21 IS PARKED AT 307 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 22:55:26 | AT APPROX 2252 HRS 2-09 LEFT VM ON PHONE FOR AMY
01/26/20 23:05:32 | 2-21 BACK AT 343 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 23:17:54 | 299, 348 | C ear A arms
01/26/20 23:17:59 | 309 | C ear A arms
01/26/20 23:18:01 | 306 | C ear A arms
01/26/20 23:18:10 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-01, 2-37, 2-44, 2-09, 2-21, 2-42
01/26/20 23:30:54 | 299, 348 | Ava ab e
01/26/20 23:32:38 | 2-31, 2-44 | D spatch
01/26/20 23:37:16 | 306 | Ava ab e
01/26/20 23:40:31 | HAVE PD CHECK 213 39TH AVE NE TO SEE IF AMY IS AT THIS ADDY
01/26/20 23:41:31 | 2-31, 2-44 | Arr ved
01/26/20 23:44:43 | 3-31 IS AT 325 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 23:45:46 | DISREGARD HAVING PD CHECK 3
01/26/20 23:47:13 | DISREGARD HAVING PD CHECK 213 39TH AVE NE ***
01/26/20 23:47:24 | HAVE BAT1 MEET ON 325 FLOOD RD
01/26/20 23:48:04 | REQ PD CHECK 1313 15TH ST S TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A JACQUELIN TO SEE IF SHE HAS HAD CONTACT WITH AMY
01/26/20 23:51:49 333 | D spatch
01/26/20 23:51:51 | 344 | D spatch
01/26/20 23:53:48 | LAST TIME WE TRIED TO CONTACT JACKIE SHE WAS UNCOOPERATIVE
01/26/20 23:54:12 | 344 | Arr ved
01/26/20 23:54:24 | 2-01 CALLED JACKIE AND SHE SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS NOT TOO CONCERNED, HE ASK THAT WE TRY TO PRESS HER
01/26/20 23:55:33 | CALL HOMELAND SECURITY SEE IF THEY CAN FLY BY WITH THERMAL IMAGER
01/26/20 23:56:44 | 333 | Arr ved
01/27/20 00:00:18 | 333, 344 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 10)
01/27/20 00:00:18 | 333, 344 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 10)
01/27/20 00:03:05 | HOMELAND SECURITY ADV WORKING ON A CALL OUT
01/27/20 00:03:05 | HOMELAND SECURITY ADV WORKING ON A CALL OUT
01/27/20 00:08:11 | 344 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 00:08:11 | 344 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 00:10:59 | 333 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 10)
01/27/20 00:11:53 | 2-31, 2-44 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 60)
01/27/20 00:11:53 | 2-31, 2-44 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 60)
01/27/20 00:18:27 | 333 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 00:18:31 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-01, 2-37, 2-44, 2-09, 2-21, 2-42 | Check Status
01/27/20 00:18:31 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-01, 2-37, 2-44, 2-09, 2-21, 2-42 | Check Status
01/27/20 00:20:55 | CALLING COMMAND POST AT MAFB
01/27/20 00:21:17 | HOMELAND SECURITY UNABLE TO FLY (HELO IN MAINTENANCE)
01/27/20 00:45:07 | 309 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 01:14:35 | 9 REQ SALLY 1 BE PAGED OUT FOR SOME WARM FOOD FOR THE RESPONDERS OUT THERE
01/27/20 01:18:32 | SALLY ONE HAS BEEN REQ
01/27/20 01:18:57 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-01, 2-37, 2-44, 2-09, 2-21, 2-42 | Check Status
01/27/20 01:34:02 | SALLY1 | D spatch
01/27/20 02:03:29 | 31 32 37 42 44 OFF THE ISLAND BACK AT THE HOUSE, 21 DRIVING EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER AND ALL SAR UNITS BACK AT THE HOUSE AS WELL.
01/27/20 02:03:41 | SALLY1 | Enroute
01/27/20 02:19:37 | 2-31, 2-32, 2-01, 2-37, 2-44, 2-09, 2-21, 2-42 | Check Status
01/27/20 03:09:26 | 2-37 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 03:19:53 | 2-21, 2-42 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 03:19:56 | 2-31, 2-44 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 03:19:58 | 2-09 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 03:20:05 | 2-01 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 03:20:08 | 2-32 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 03:23:29 | 2-31, 2-44 | Ungroup
01/27/20 03:37:47 | 2-31 | Arr ved
01/27/20 03:43:24 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 03:58:10 | UNK COLOR LS SHIRT , BLK YOGA PANTS, UNK TYPE SHOES
01/27/20 03:58:16 | ENTER AMY AS MISSING PERSON
01/27/20 04:11:23 | MKE/EME ORI/MT0070000 DEST/MT0070000 REQ/DEH9XXXXXX NAM/PERMANN, AMY ELAINE NIC/M465618276 OCA/M20-0261 MRI 7017892 IN: NC2S 1115 AT 27JAN2020 04:10:42 OUT: J02S00 8 AT 27JAN2020 04:10:42
01/27/20 04:25:10 MKE/EIM ORI/MT0070000 DEST/MT0070000 REQ/DEH9XXXXXX IMAGE IS ACCEPTED NIC/M465618276 IMN/I036245102 IMT/M MRI 7018213 IN: NC2S 1167 AT 27JAN2020 04:24:38 OUT:J02S00 13 AT 27JAN2020 04:24:38
01/27/20 04:28:10 | MKE/EMN ORI/MT0070000 DEST/MT0070000 REQ/DEH9XXXXXX SUPP NAM/PERMANN, AMY ELAINE NIC/M465618276 MRI 7018280 IN: NC2S 1180 AT 27JAN2020 04:28:01 OUT: J02S00 18 AT 27JAN2020 04:28:01
01/27/20 04:32:26 |BULLETIN ADDED
01/27/20 04:32:47 |2-44, 2-37 | Arr ved
01/27/20 04:32:53 |2-44, 2-37 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 04:34:03 |2-01 HEADING TO 436 25TH AVE NE
01/27/20 04:39:19 |321 | D spatch
01/27/20 04:47:53 |321 | Arr ved
01/27/20 04:53:47 |321 | Check Status (T me (m nutes): 15)
01/27/20 04:54:51 |ADDY IS NO GOOD NOW TRYING 213 RIVERVIEW 3E
01/27/20 04:57:59 | 321 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 04:58:11 | 2-01 CLEAR OF ADDYS
01/27/20 05:00:44 | SALLY1 | Arr ved
01/27/20 05:59:58 | 113 RIVERVIEW 8W IS POSS ADDRESS MATTHEW (PER 236 VIA POWERSCHOOL)
01/27/20 06:27:41 | 31 DID ANOTHER CHECK AROUND 341 FLOOD ROAD
01/27/20 06:27:46 | 2-44, 2-37 | Ungroup
01/27/20 06:27:54 | 2-31, 2-44 | Group
01/27/20 06:28:00 | 2-31, 2-44 | Arr ved
01/27/20 06:28:06 | 2-37 | Arr ved
01/27/20 06:29:04 | 2-34 | D spatch
01/27/20 06:29:20 | 2-43, 2-26 | D spatch
01/27/20 06:33:05 | Re-searched the grounds at 317 w th no resu ts. #42
01/27/20 06:34:38 | searched at 349 and spoke w th res dents. #31
01/27/20 06:36:43 | Re-searched the grounds at 307 F ood rd w th negat ve f nd ngs. #42
01/27/20 06:39:21 | 2-31, 2-44 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 06:39:24 | 2-37 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 06:39:42 | 2-43, 2-34, 2-26 | Arr ved
01/27/20 06:39:46 | 2-43, 2-26 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 06:39:55 | 2-34 | C ear A arms
01/27/20 06:42:07 | searched at 345 and spoke w th res dents. #31
01/27/20 06:49:28 | 2-21, 2-42 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 06:50:21 | 2-43 AT 341 FLOOD RD
01/27/20 06:53:13 | 2-34 | Un t Locat on (Locat on: 333 f ood rd) - 333 f ood rd
01/27/20 06:58:02 | 2-09 | Message - s&r, ccso n ght sh ft sa 1 and mafb a be ng re eased per 9
01/27/20 07:06:24 | SAR1 | Depart Scene (Locat on: Quarters)
01/27/20 07:06:39 | 26 c eear ng 341 f ood rd
01/27/20 07:07:39 | 2-31, 2-44 | Depart Scene (Locat on: 10-19)
01/27/20 07:08:56 | SALLY1 | Depart Scene (Locat on: Quarters)
01/27/20 07:10:14 | 2-37 | Depart Scene (Locat on: 10-19)
01/27/20 07:12:40 | resd c ear
01/27/20 07:14:21 | 2-31, 2-44 | At Stat on
01/27/20 07:16:21 | 2-43, 2-26 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 07:16:49 | 34 re eved 32 at scene
01/27/20 07:17:01 | 2-32, 2-09 | Depart Scene (Locat on: 10-19)
01/27/20 07:17:26 | 2-37 | At Stat on
01/27/20 07:20:04 | SAR1 | Arr ved Secondary (Locat on: Quarters) - sar17
01/27/20 07:24:48 | 2-09 | At Stat on
01/27/20 07:24:48 | 2-09 | At Stat on
01/27/20 07:25:38 | 2-37 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 07:25:38 | 2-37 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 07:27:22 | 2-32 | Un t Locat on (Locat on: 3800)
01/27/20 07:27:22 | 2-32 | Un t Locat on (Locat on: 3800)
01/27/20 07:32:20 | SALLY1 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 07:32:20 | SALLY1 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 07:32:32 | 2-31, 2-44 | Ungroup
01/27/20 07:43:48 | sar 25 n qtrs
01/27/20 08:23:20 | 2-09 | Ava ab e
01/27/20 08:34:11 | 2-04 | D spatch
01/27/20 08:35:04 | LEBRUN CONTACTED BENEFIS AND SHE HAS NOT SHOWN UP FOR WORK



We talked with Sheriff Slaughter on Wednesday about the case; here is what he told us:

  • We are currently at this point in time we are going through multiple leads through our investigation. I’m not going to discuss those leads, but yes, we have been sifting through multiple leads and we will be ramping up the search again this weekend based upon those leads we’ve been working on.
  • It would be irresponsible at this point in time to have any of those leads go “cold” and the reason being is we haven't found Amy yet. One of the biggest mistakes we could make as investigators is to start ruling things out when we actually haven't found her.
  • I have given direction to all the investigators we have involved in this, that everything is still a possibility. All the leads are still open and to investigate those leads thoroughly.
  • We are talking to people that aren't local because there are people that are connected to her and other people involved in the investigation that aren’t local.
  • We will be doing a helicopter search I believe Saturday or Sunday and we have some more follow-up searches this weekend. It will be a pretty intense weekend with searches. Part of it is the weather and part of it is also when we learn about the information then we can react on it. The weather does play a factor in what we do, that is for sure.
  • There’s a massive amount of information that we’re taking in. We are then having to analyze all of that. And then it is creating leads. And leads are coming up in this investigation daily or hourly as far as that goes.
  • Unfortunately, and I’ll reiterate this, we cant really close any of those leads until we find Amy.
  • Missing people have been found 20 years later alive and well, so I don’t speculate on that, I think it’s natural for the public to always speculate the worst if they can't locate someone quickly.
  • What can happen is you don't have any leads. Which in this three week period of time you guys have seen us ramp up, and slow down, and ramp up and slow down. Well, we ramp up based on the information that we have so that we can search correctly.
  • We are going to search diligently, we’re going to follow leads diligently, we’re going to investigate. And then there might come a period of time where we don't have the leads that we had, or we’re waiting on more information to come from, say, a crime lab or a cell phone, or what have you. There’s lots of different avenues that we could get information. Sometimes we are in a waiting period and sometimes we don't have any more leads. Then you get leads and you ramp up again. So the reality of that is you never really are going to give up on it, and just say, 'Oh, we’re done.' We’re not going to do that. The truth of the matter is only really Amy knows where Amy is at this point.

If you have any information about Amy’s whereabouts, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 406-454-6979.

JANUARY 27: Great Falls woman reported missing
JANUARY 28: Volunteers needed to help search for Amy
JANUARY 29: Volunteers help search for Amy Harding
JANUARY 30: "Multiple agencies" working to find Amy Harding
JANUARY 31: Sheriff: the search for Amy Harding continues
FEBRUARY 10: Search for Amy Harding enters third week
FEBRUARY 10: Search for Amy Harding enters third week