Missoula Crime Report: Man Runs Red Light, Hits Car With Kids Inside

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office charged 16 new criminal complaints this week, which is three more than last week and right around the weekly average. According to County Attorney Kirsten Pabst, her office was extra busy this week because all of those were in custody cases.  

“Of the 16, five were violent crimes or crimes against persons, and three of those involved interpersonal violence or family violence. In the non-family-related violent category, we had an assault on a peace officer. The allegation is the defendant grabbed the officer's hair and also injured the officer's ear.” 

According to Pabst, there was also a robbery case in which the defendant attacked the victim for a very small amount of marijuana. 

READ MORE: Missoula Robber Takes Victim’s Marijuana, Runs From Police 

“There were five new endangerment cases and two of them were felony DUIs,” Pabst said. “One child endangerment had two counts because the allegation is the defendant crashed his vehicle by running a red light and T-boning another vehicle with two small children on board. In another, the defendant allegedly backed into another family at a daycare.” 

Pabst said they also charged a defendant with impersonating a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputy. 

READ MORE: Man Returns to Missoula Shelter, Demands to Be Let Back In 

“We also had a homicide trial,” Pabst said. “Jacques Bernard was convicted of deliberate homicide for stabbing his wife multiple times and causing her death.” 

Pabst also mentioned that the Missoula Police Department is still investigating a vicious assault that occurred on the night of December 1st in the 1400 block of Van Buren St. 

READ MORE: Missoula Police Investigate ‘Vicious’ Assault That was Recorded 

“Five youths have been charged,” Pabst said. “They're looking into possibly charging a sixth. The allegation is they lured another juvenile into a residence and then repeatedly assaulted him, injuring him. It was filmed, it was put on Snapchat and then brought to the attention of law enforcement. Because of some of the language that was captured on those videos, we are also exploring possible hate crimes charges as well.” 

The Missoula County Attorney’s Office provides a weekly crime report every Friday morning at 9:00 on Talk Back. You can listen to Pabst’s full report below: