Habitual Beer Thief Threatens to Shoot Missoula Walmart Employee

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 1:51 p.m. on October 9th, 2024, several Missoula Police Department officers were dispatched to the Walmart at 4000 Highway 93 South. It was reported that a male was shoplifting and then threatened to shoot a loss prevention officer with a gun if he didn't leave him alone.

According to court documents, the male ignored several commands from officers to lie on his stomach. Eventually, one officer brandished a Taser while other officers held lethal coverage. A corporal shot one round of the 40 mm at the male who finally complied with commands and laid down. The male was arrested, placed in handcuffs, and taken to a patrol vehicle.

An officer went inside Walmart and met with the victim, John Doe. The officer asked Doe to show her surveillance footage and speak about the incident. Doe stated that the suspect, who was later identified as 63-year-old Darren Webster, came into the store several times throughout the morning and took beer without paying. Doe stated he called 911 every time the male came into the store. Doe said Webster would hang out by the Mountain Line bench and drink the beers he stole.

At 1:21 p.m., Webster had taken more beer without paying for it. Doe followed Webster out of the store and confronted him outside. While Doe was trying to get Walmart's belongings back from Webster, Webster had a pack of beer and his backpack sitting in a cart. Webster was digging in his backpack while Doe was speaking with him. Then, Webster told Doe, "If you don't leave me alone and walk away, I'm going to shoot and kill you with the gun in my backpack."

Doe said that this made him scared, and due to their policy, he knew to disengage and contact 911 immediately. After he contacted 911, Doe watched Webster walk towards the grassy hill and sit underneath a tree where officers located him.

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports

Doe also learned that Webster was a known shoplifter from their store and that he was trespassed from all Walmart property. Doe provided the officer with an official "Notification of Restriction from Property, " which Webster signed on December 14, 2023, acknowledging that he was trespassed from all Walmart property.

Webster is currently being charged with felony robbery and felony burglary. His bond was set at $100,000.

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