Trying to Grab a Meteor Hammer While Fighting a Missoula Officer

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On August 14, 2026, at approximately 5:34 p.m., a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to a report of an assault at the Zip Trip convenience store on Toole Street. A 911 caller reported that a male was trying to start fights with people in the parking lot. She also reported that the male punched an employee who tried to stop a fight. She also stated the male threatened to blow up her vehicle.

At approximately 5:49 p.m., officers received another 911 call. That caller said a male was throwing water bottles at people in the area of Sherwood Street. The officer located the suspect approaching a vehicle. Dispatch advised the registered owner of this vehicle was 50-year-old Nolan Small, who had anti-law-enforcement indicators and may possess a handgun or crossbow. Small also had two active “appearance only” warrants.

Small exited his truck and began walking towards the officer, but then turned around and started walking back to his truck. The officer ordered Small to turn around and come back. Small stopped, did not respond, refused, and turned around.

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A High-Stakes Situation: Officer's Perception of Threat

He walked back towards the driver’s door of the truck and was seemingly struggling to get it open. The officer began to approach him and continued to give him commands. Small ignored him and started using a key to try to open the truck door. Small appeared to be making an even more hurried attempt to enter the truck. The officer did not know his intentions and perceived that Small was likely going to access a weapon.

The officer recognized there was a brief window of opportunity to tackle Small. The officer began to close the distance to him, ordering him to stop and warning him that force would be used upon him. As the officer neared him and said this, Small opened the door and hastily reached into the truck near the dash.

The officer pounced on Small, grabbing his right arm. Small’s right hand seemed to be grasping at something underneath the dash. Small then balled up his fist and tried to punch the officer. At the same time, Small pushed the officer backwards with his left hand. The officer managed to deflect the punch attempt with his left arm, but Small succeeded in pushing the officer back.

Small tried to get back to the truck, but the officer immediately pounced back at him. Small faced the officer fully and again tried to hit the officer in the face. The officer delivered a single strike to stun Small. Small bent at the knees and collapsed onto his waist. The officer attempted to try to control Small, but he continued trying to free himself and also tried to turn to reach into the truck with his right arm.

Additional Officers Arrive: Control and Custody

Another officer arrived on scene and saw that Small was actively pulling away and swinging at the officer. Small raised his knee up into the officer, striking him in the perineum, but likely trying to hit his testicles. The second officer secured Small’s legs while the other officer kept control of Small’s upper body until additional officers arrived. Small was taken into custody, placed into the WRAP, and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility.

After Small was secured, the officer went back to the open door of the truck. The officer observed a metal weighted cone attached to a short chain with a leather strap handle in the vehicle. The officer later learned that the weapon is most commonly referred to as a Meteor Hammer or Kusari-Fundo— a short chain weapon with a weighted iron. The officer suspected that perhaps this was what Small had been trying to grab from the truck during the altercation.

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Small is currently being charged with felony attempted assault on a peace officer, two counts of assault, obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest. His bond was set at $5,000.

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