Man Breaks Into a Missoula Hotel Room and Sets Up a Barricade

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 18, 2024, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a disturbance at the Mountain Valley Inn. Dispatch advised that the callers reported an unknown male entered their hotel room from the balcony. However, the male had left before officers arrived.  

Upon arrival, officers could hear objects being moved around, and a male subject talking inside a room immediately next door to the initial callers’ room. An officer knocked and announced herself as law enforcement. The male, later identified as 45-year-old Jason Lamar, refused to come to the door. Lamar yelled loudly with heavy use of profanity, stating there was nobody else with him and that he had barricaded the door. 

Throughout the exchange, officers calmly and repeatedly asked Lamar to exit the room, but he always refused. Officers could hear Lamar moving furniture around the room. Lamar admitted that he had gained access through the balcony before proceeding to damage the property inside. According to court documents, Lamar was very emotionally volatile, and in rapid cycles, he went from calmly speaking to screaming.  

An officer advised Lamar several times that he was under arrest and needed to vacate the room peacefully; otherwise, he would be charged with Resisting Arrest. Lamar told the officer that he was in “warrior” mode. The officer asked him what he meant by his statement, and he stated, “Whether I die or not, I’m f*****g doing something.” Approximately 35 minutes after initial contact, the door was opened via a code provided by management. 

When the door opened, officers were initially unable to gain access as a chair, table, and other furniture had been stacked up in the doorway. At this time, Lamar emerged with his hands up and followed the officer’s commands to come out.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Officers cleared the hotel room. The entire bed and frame had been tipped up against the wall near the balcony door, furniture was overturned and misplaced, and the hammock hanging from the ceiling in the room appeared to be broken. 

Once placed under arrest, Lamar confirmed his identity. As Lamar was escorted out of the building, his fingers were twitching uncontrollably. The Officer Mirandized Lamar. When asked the last time he had used Methamphetamine, Lamar advised that he had “snorted” a line of meth earlier. Lamar also admitted that he scaled the wall (three or four floors) to climb onto the balcony, which was left unlocked to the room where he entered.  

Lamar is currently being charged with felony burglary, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, and disorderly conduct. 

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