Missoula County Attorney Says Crime Numbers Tend to Spike During the Holiday
The Missoula County Attorney’s Office filed 18 new criminal complaints this week, the majority of which were violent crimes or endangerment cases. County Attorney Kirsten Pabst provided details on this week’s crime report.
The Attorney’s Office filed four violent crimes this week, all of which were partner/family assaults, three of them involving charges of strangulation. The Office also filed eight endangerment cases, four of which were criminal endangerment. In one of the cases, the defendant was charged with tampering with evidence and evading a police officer as he tried to dispose of drugs while engaged in a car chase. In the second case, the defendant was driving under the influence with a two-year-old child in the backseat of the car.
“[In the] third criminal endangerment case, the defendant allegedly left the roadway and overturned her vehicle into Finley Creek, injuring a 16-year-old passenger,” Pabst reported. “Finally, in the fourth criminal endangerment case, the defendant drove from the Silver Slipper to Lolo at speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour, nearly hitting multiple vehicles and nearly causing multiple collisions, and apparently she had trouble keeping her car in its own lane.”
This week’s crime report also included four crimes involving meth. In one of these cases, the defendant was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after exposing two young children to meth and drug paraphernalia.
Pabst describes another one of the crimes this week as a game check station violation.
“The defendant failed to stop at the Bonner hunter’s checkpoint and then the game warden pulled him over,” Pabst reported. “When he did, the defendant allegedly provided the wrong name and birthday. Officers later learned that there were $20,000 in warrants out for his arrest.”
Other complaints filed this week included two felony DUI offenses, two property crimes, and two administrative crimes.
The number of criminal complaints filed this week almost doubled from last week’s crime report, an increase that can be partially attributed to the holiday season.
“We do see a spike in partner and family member assault domestic violence cases, as well as a slight spike in child abuse cases, over the holidays.”
Pabst also stated that the Attorney’s Office sees a “huge spike” in DUIs over the holidays. She reminds Missoulians to always have a designated driver, or else take advantage of the many services available to get people home safe.