Missoula Homeless Man Camping by the River Gets Caught With Meth

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On August 25, 2026, a Missoula Police Department Officer was working with the City of Missoula’s code compliance team to help abate trash around the Poverello Center. The officer and the team were at a camp along the Clark Fork River near West Broadway Street and Scott Street.  

The officer walked down the hill to the water’s edge and observed numerous hypodermic needle caps in the dirt near the camp. The officer noted the camp was violating the time, place, and manner restrictions set forth in Missoula’s Municipal Code and that trash was falling from the campsite into the river.  

The officer contacted three individuals in the area of the camp, including 56-year-old William Matt. One individual said she was just cleaning up garbage. The officer ran a records check on all three and determined that Matt had an active warrant for his arrest for an assault charge out of Missoula’s Municipal Court.  

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Matt was arrested on the warrant. During a search incident to arrest, the officer located a small baggie with suspected methamphetamine in Matt’s front left coat pocket next to a wallet containing Matt’s identification. The officer field-tested the suspected methamphetamine, which resulted in a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine. 

Matt was then transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. 

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