Missoula Crime Report: 25 New Cases This Week
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office charged 25 new criminal complaints this week, which is four more than last week and higher than the weekly average. County Attorney Kirsten Pabst provided a report.
“Six of those fall into the violent crime or crimes against persons category and several of those involved interpersonal violence,” Pabst said. “One included an assault on a minor. In another, the allegation is that the defendant rammed his girlfriend’s vehicle. In another, the defendant hit her boyfriend with a full bottle of alcohol.”
In the endangerment category, Pabst said there were two cases.
“One was a felony DUI and eluding,” Pabst said. “The other was the tragic case that we had heard about involving the death up at Snowbowl where the defendant was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.”
In addition, Pabst said there were five new property crimes.
“There were several thefts,” Pabst said. “One included a stolen gun as well as a trespass case that occurred at Walmart. We charged six new drug cases. There were lots and lots of fentanyl cases. In the administrative category, there were six new cases that included fugitives from justice and failures to register.”
Pabst also mentioned that their trial docket, as always, is very full.
“We average about 20 felony trials a year, a little less than two per month, which really keeps us at capacity,” Pabst said. “In about a month, toward the end of May, we have two homicide cases that are scheduled to go to trial. One was the Staryal Johnson case and the other was the Colton Merritt case, which was postponed from earlier this year.”
The Missoula County Attorney’s Office provides a report every Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. during KGVO’s Talk Back show.