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Saddler arrested in kidnap case

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, the second suspect of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation kidnapping was arrested.

Matthew Joseph Saddler, 31, of Billings was arrested without incident on an outstanding Chouteau County District Court warrant for charges of assault, aggravated assault and robbery by Havre police and agents of the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force at 121 3rd Ave. W. in Havre.

He was taken to the Hill County Detention Center and held on a $150,000 bond before he was transferred to Chouteau County. His bond remains the same.

Saddler was arrested with two others, both of whom had outstanding Justice or City court warrants.

The other suspect in the kidnapping, John Michael Merrill, was arrested May 6 north of Roundup. He was arrested on charges of felony assault, felony robbery and misdemeanor assault. He already has convictions in Hill and Custer counties for assault on a peace officer, persistent felony offender for criminal endangerment and escape.

The two allegedly forced the two hitchhikers into the trunk of a car and drove down Sandy Creek Road off the reservation.

The victims were taken out of the trunk and beaten. They were abandoned and eventually found and taken to Great Falls’ Benefis Hospital, where they identified the suspects.

 

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