Familiar Face Causes Disturbance at Missoula’s Mountain Line Hub

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 13, 2025, at approximately 11:05 AM, a Missoula Police Department officer was dispatched to the Mountain Line Transfer Center on West Pine Street for a disorderly female who was screaming in their bathrooms. The complainant reported that the female had already been trespassed from their property previously. An officer arrived and spoke with the complainant, who said the female had just left and was walking west towards Woody Street. 

While walking through the bus lanes, officers could hear a female screaming. Officers then observed a female and immediately identified her as 37-year-old Whitney Phillips. They knew her from prior law enforcement encounters. An officer called out Phillips's name, and she came towards them and sat on the curb of the Courthouse. Phillips was screaming at officers and was highly escalated. An officer advised Phillips to take a few deep breaths and stop screaming, to which she nodded in acknowledgement. 

Officers learned from the investigation that Phillips had been permanently trespassed from the Mountain Line Transfer Center on April 09, 2025, and she was reminded of the permanent order on April 25, 2025, just over two weeks ago. Officers then learned that Phillips had several appearance warrants out for her arrest and advised her that she would be taken into custody.  

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Phillips immediately stood up, put her cigarette down, aggressively grabbed her cell phone, and threw it towards the ground of the parking lot. Officers each grabbed onto Phillips's arms and instructed Phillips to place her hands behind her back. Phillips began to resist by tensing up her arms and pulling her body away. As an officer was telling Phillips to stop, Phillips raised her left foot and delivered a kick backward to the officer’s leg.  

Officers immediately attempted to take Phillips to the ground, but she continued to actively resist. Phillips’s resistance pulled all officers to the ground. Officers were eventually able to place Phillips in handcuffs. An officer lifted her pant leg and observed a large abrasion on her left knee. She also noted an abrasion to her left elbow. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

During this process, Phillips continued to fight and scream at officers. Officers continued to hold Phillips until another officer arrived on the scene and was able to place her into the WRAP restraint to prevent injury to herself and further injury to officers. The WRAP restraint device was placed on Phillips without further incident.  

Phillips is currently being charged with felony assault on a peace officer, criminal trespass to property, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Her bond was set at $10,000. 

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