Butte Escapee Steals a $41,900 Car From a Missoula Dealership

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 20, 2024, a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to a call of a stolen car at a dealership in the 3100 block of W. Broadway St. An employee reported the theft of a 2020 White Ford Explorer Platinum Edition that had just been sold. The new owner had not yet taken possession of the car. The officer observed the sale price in the contract as $41,900.

On May 23, 2024, the officer observed a newer white Fored Explorer with the dealership’s tags in Missoula. Then the officer observed a male, later identified as 40-year-old Kenneth Gravelle, possibly asleep in the driver’s seat. A known risk stop was conducted and the officer gave Gravelle commands to exit the Explorer. Gravelle was taken into custody and the officer confirmed that the car had been stolen from the dealership a few days prior.

The officer confirmed that the mileage at the time of the theft was around 10,900 miles and observed that the odometer reading at the time of arrest was around 11,500 miles. Then the officer checked the internal navigation system, which showed multiple locations entered.

While searching the car, the officer found a loaded Glock 41 Gen 4, .45 caliber pistol in the passenger seat. The officer also found checkbooks, insurance cards, and multiple tax documents belonging to someone else. Attempts to contact that person were unsuccessful.

Gravelle was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony theft of property of a light vehicle. A search of Gravelle’s information revealed he was an escapee from the Connection Correction Program in Butte.

This is not the first time Gravelle has been caught in a stolen vehicle. On April 1, 2023, he was arrested for stealing a vehicle during a burglary in Flathead County. He was charged with felony theft, criminal trespass to property, obstructing a peace officer, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.

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