Suspected Gang Members Attempt to Burglarize Missoula Stores

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) On June 26, 2026, at approximately 1:36 AM, Missoula Police Department officers were in the area of 3555 Mullan Road for a possible robbery involving young men in masks. While responding, the call was downgraded to a theft or disorderly conduct. Officers were called off. However, while in the area, an officer drove behind Walmart.  

The officer saw a male standing in the parking lot of Maxxed Out Performance near Clark Fork Way. He was wearing all black clothing and a white Nike face mask. The officer looked toward the building and saw another male at the door attempting to get into the building. As the officer was approaching, the male at the door turned around and immediately started running away.  

The officer yelled at the first male with the white face mask to stop. He did not immediately stop, but did after multiple commands. The male was identified as 18-year-old Jaikeli Charlo by his driver’s license. He said he was with his cousin X.C. and another friend W.M. X.C. had an officer caution for possessing handguns and rifles and is known to flee from law enforcement.  

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According to court documents, the young men were suspected of being involved in a gang in the Missoula area and had been associated with various crimes in Missoula and Lake Counties.  

The officer asked Jaikeli what they were doing. Jaikeli said they had asked a man for money near the gas station. He said he did not know why he was wearing a mask. He said it was his cousin X.C. at the door when the officer pulled up. He said X.C. was trying to get into the business. Jaikeli said they also tried to get into another nearby business, Town and Country Auto Body.  

Jaikeli was placed under arrest and Mirandized. He said after asking the man for money, they went digging around everywhere. He ultimately said that they were trying to break into the businesses to steal a crowbar to then burglarize a liquor store at Mullan Station. While the officer was talking to Jaikeli, other officers were looking for the other two men with a drone. They were tracked to the Missoula Waste Water Treatment Plant. The facility was closed, gated, and locked. The males had gained entry by jumping the fence.  

After yelling commands for approximately 25 seconds, X.C. came out and was placed into custody. Another male was seen on drone footage hiding in bushes. Officers approached and saw shoes protruding from a bush. He refused to show his hands. The third male, W.M. eventually crawled out of the bushes and was arrested.  

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

After being placed into custody, X.C. was Mirandized. X.C. said he was looking for a crowbar. He admitted to jiggling handles of businesses. He said the crowbar was for his cousin’s van.  

W.M. was also Mirandized. He said they were bored and they were just ding-dong ditching and checking door handles to see if they were unlocked. W.M. had been released from Pine Hills approximately 12 hours before. 

Jaikeli was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony conspiracy to commit robbery. His bond was set at $10,000. 

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