Missoula Man Steals Door Dash Car, Drives Into Oncoming Traffic

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 9, 2023, a Missoula Police Department officer was dispatched to a report of a stolen vehicle. The complainant stated her 2010 silver Honda Fit had been stolen by an unknown individual while she was completing a “Door Dash” delivery. She had left her vehicle running while she dropped off a food order, and returned to find it was gone.

She told the officer that her Apple AirPods were in the vehicle, and she was using her “Find My” mobile application to track them. The application provided her with a mapping system to track the AirPods, which she relayed to the officer.

Law enforcement officers located the vehicle traveling northbound on Brooks Street and the original officer began pursuit. Although there was ample space to pull over, the male suspect kept driving even though the officer’s lights and siren were activated. The officer noticed the vehicle appeared to be accelerating, witnessed it fail to stop at a stop sign, and travel into the oncoming lane of traffic on Dearborn Avenue.

The driver then pulled into the Missoula Strikers Soccer Association parking lot and entered traffic on S. Russell Street without yielding. The officer observed a Dayspring Restoration van had to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision with the male suspect’s vehicle. The driver then cut across all lanes of travel and drove onto the adjacent curb and appeared to have a flat right front tire.

The vehicle then continued traveling northbound and made several turns which the officer believed was an attempt to evade him. The vehicle eventually slowed down on South Avenue but began driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of travel before coming to a stop.

Once the vehicle stopped, the officer noticed the male suspect flung the driver’s side door open and emerged. The officer believed, based on the male’s driving behavior and athletic stance, that the male was about to flee. According to court documents, the officer held lethal cover over the male suspect until further law enforcement officers arrived. The male suspect was identified as 22-year-old Khalil Lewis and it appeared he had been consuming alcohol.

Lewis was placed under arrest and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony theft, fleeing from a peace officer, and two other traffic offenses. On October 11, 2023, Lewis made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $25,000.

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.