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BILLINGS - A Laurel Police officer has been placed on leave after being jailed and charged with kicking his girlfriend until she lost consciousness.

Jim Huertas, 46, appeared Monday in Billings Municipal Court and was charged with one count of misdemeanor partner or family member assault. Huertas was jailed in lieu of a $500 bond and ordered to have no contact with the victim, said Billings Deputy City Attorney Benjamin Halverson on Tuesday.

Appearing Monday before Municipal Judge Sheila Kolar, Halverson stressed the importance of the no contact order between Huertas and the woman.

"Any officer who has investigated any of these cases knows a guilty verdict is highly dependent on the witness being cooperative," Halverson said Tuesday.

Billings Police officers spoke with the woman at Billings Clinic Sunday, according to a Billings Police report. The woman reported to police she and Huertas had argued over the phone at about 3 p.m. on Sunday and when she returned to the apartment they shared, Huertas had blocked the door with suitcases. Once inside, she and Huertas continued to argue. During the argument, Huertas allegedly punched her multiple times before pushing her to the ground and kicking her in the ribs until she lost consciousness, according to the police report.