Homeless Man Caught Breaking Into Campers in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 3:25 p.m. on December 2, 2024, a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was dispatched to Canyon Creek Storage. The deputy was notified that someone had broken into the facility and had damaged property. The deputy walked around the facility and located two broken windows on a motor home. The deputy also located blood on the camper below the back shattered window.  

The next day, the suspect returned to the scene. Multiple deputies responded and noticed a Scout camper began shaking and rocking like someone could have been inside. The Deputy heard someone speaking, announced himself, and notified the occupant inside he was under arrest. The deputy ordered the suspect to open the door slightly and put his hands out. The suspect was unable to open the door but, pushed a pillow through a broken window and showed his empty hands.  

Once that was established, a deputy unlocked the door through the window and opened it. The deputy ordered the suspect out and immediately took him into custody. The suspect, now identified as 46-year-old Michael David, told the deputy that some of the keys found on his person belonged to a camper down the road.

According to court documents, David said he was kicked out of the shelters and no one around there would help him steal a car so he began walking the Kim Williams trail. David walked around the property with the deputy pointing out places he went. He told the deputy he tried to open doors on a handful of campers, that some were locked, and that one had an alarm that went off.  

Then he told the deputy how he entered the motorhome. He said he threw a rock at the front passenger window and it shattered. David said he threw another rock at the back passenger window, but it bounced back at him. That was how David got the cut on his head which caused him to bleed on the motorhome.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

As for the Scout camper, David described it to the deputy as “pimping” for what he needed. David told the deputy about how he broke into the window and got inside. Once inside, he went to sleep. David told the deputy he used the gas in it. 

According to the owner of the motorhome, the windows were valued at a total of $3,000. According to the owner of the Scout camper, the window which was on the door was valued at $1,500. The propane and diesel David used to heat the camper while he was inside of it was valued at $100. 

David was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony criminal mischief, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass to property. 

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