Missoula Assault Case: Tensions Flare Amid Road Dispute

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 15, 2025, Missoula Police Department Officers were informed of a report of an assault that had just occurred on Pattee Creek Drive. The reporting party, John Doe, reported to law enforcement that an older male had attempted to assault him with a stick and then pointed a gun at him.  

An officer met with Doe and K.M. and noted that both parties were very animated. The officer had to ask them to calm down and explain step by step what had occurred. They stated they had purchased a motorcycle from a male who lives on Pattee Creek Drive. They drove from Helena to the male’s residence to pick up the motorcycle and had parked in the alleyway to complete the title paperwork.  

Doe said his truck is large but he left room in the alley for other vehicles to get around. Doe stated while they were in the alleyway, a black Volkswagen Jetta was attempting to drive into the alleyway to park in his driveway. Doe stated the driver of the Jetta, later identified as 78-year-old Richard Anduaga got out of his vehicle and began to yell at Doe, telling Doe that his truck was in the way.  

Argument Escalates  

Doe stated he and Anduaga began arguing with each other. Doe said Anduaga then walked back to the driver’s side of his vehicle and began digging around inside the car. Doe and K.M. both stated that they were terrified and they feared he was grabbing a weapon, such as a firearm.  

Doe reported that Anduaga pulled out a blue “stick,” which was later provided to law enforcement by Doe and was found to be a bundle of cooper wires that were wrapped in blue casing and weighed approximately 8-10 lbs. Doe stated that Anduaga approached him with the bundle and attempted to swing it at him.  

In response and to avoid being hit, Doe grabbed Anduaga’s shoulders and “dumped” Anduaga to the ground. After falling, Anduaga lost control of the bundle and Doe quickly grabbed it. Doe said he and K.M. then ran back to their truck to try to remove themselves from the situation. 

“Going to Get His Gun” 

Doe was then told by the motorcycle owner to drive to the front of his home to finish the paperwork. Doe said that before he got back into his truck, Anduaga started to walk towards his house and made a statement that he was “going to go get his gun.” Doe stated he and K.M. also had their two children in the truck with them.  

Doe stated while they were parked in front of the motorcycle owner’s home to finish the paperwork, he observed Anduaga walking out from the side of his house and quickly towards Doe’s truck with a firearm raised up and pointed at Doe’s truck. 

Doe stated as soon as he saw the gun, he yelled "Nope! Gun!" and began to speed away from Anduaga. Both K.M. and Doe stated they believed Anduaga’s intention was to shoot them. Doe stated his primary thought was to get away to prevent his family from being killed.  

Anduaga Shares His Side of the Story 

During this same time, officers responded to speak to Anduaga. Anduaga agreed to exit his home to speak with officers. He said he was driving down the alleyway to his house but a 5-county plate was blocking the way. 

Anduaga stated he “ventured” for the guy to move, and the guy refused. Anduaga stated the two then got into an altercation and were yelling at each other. Anduaga stated he is 80 years old and that the other guy was 25 and stated, “I ain’t gonna play with no kid that’s 25.” 

An officer informed Anduaga that a firearm was mentioned in the 911 call and Anduaga stated that Doe was threatening “to do this” so Anduaga told Doe that he was going to go get a gun.  

It was at this time that the officer read Anduaga his Miranda rights and Anduaga stated he understood them. According to court documents, Anduaga said he grabbed his gun and then went out into the front of the house with the gun at his side, and Doe then drove away. 

Anduaga stated he is a law-abiding citizen, not “some crazy maniac”. He said he wasn’t coming out in the yard to shoot Doe. When asked why he came out with the gun, Anduaga stated, “I’m not gonna tell you I feared for my life because that wasn’t the situation."

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The officer then asked Anduaga for permission to retrieve the firearm. Anduaga allowed the officer to come inside and stated the firearm was inside his nightstand by his bed. The officer went inside, located the firearm in the nightstand, and rendered it safe. 

Then Anduaga was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently being charged with three counts of felony assault with a weapon. ��

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