Missoula Man Steals $90,000 Truck and $8,000 Trailer

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 29, 2023, at approximately 11:00 a.m., a complainant reported to law enforcement that a flatbed trailer was stolen from a business on Racetrack Lane.  A White Dodge Ram 2500 4-door truck with a Job Box and fuel tank in the back was on the flatbed trailer.

The truck was valued at $90,000 and the flatbed trailer was valued at $8,000. The area where the truck was stolen had distinct boot prints around it and district tire tracks. It appeared that another vehicle had hooked up the trailer and driven away with it.  

Deputies Find the Trailer

At around 10:00 p.m. that same day, a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy found the trailer and truck at the Blue Mountain Recreation Area trailhead. There were tire tracks in the snow at the scene that showed an aggressive tread pattern and boot prints with a distinct pattern. The owner of the stolen vehicle came and found that the catalytic converter had been removed from his truck. 

While deputies were wrapping up the scene, a corporal observed a suspicious vehicle approach. The vehicle slowed as if it was going to turn into the trailhead area and then sped off down Blue Mountain Road. The corporal drove after the vehicle, but it was traveling at a high rate of speed on very icy roads.  

A deputy was further down the road in front of the suspicious vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle was a Dodge truck. The deputy noticed the tire impressions of the Dodge were the same he had previously observed at the Blue Mountain Trailhead by the stolen trailer and truck.  

Deputies Identify the Suspect

The driver was identified as 34-year-old Cody Clark. Court documents indicate Clark eventually admitted to being in possession of the stolen truck and trailer. Clark said he got the trailer and truck from his friend. 

Clark was placed under arrest and Mirandized. Clark said he went to the Wye early that morning with his friend. The friend wanted to pull the trailer, but his truck was not big enough. Clark pulled the trailer to Blue Mountain and left it there to go gamble.  

The deputy also noticed that the tread on Clark’s boots matched those at the scene of the theft and by the trailer. Clark said that his friend told him he stole the truck and trailer from someone near Highway 10 and Decker. Clark said his friend wanted the tank and toolbox off the truck. Clark said his friend was supposed to give him money for moving the truck. 

Clark Confesses to the Theft

On January 30, 2023, a deputy went to the jail and Mirandized Clark again. Clark admitted to moving the trailer from the Deep Creek area at the request of his friend. Clark then said he was at the scene of the theft and assisted in taking the trailer. He hooked up the trailer to his friend’s truck who towed it away from the scene to Deep Creek. Clark also rode in his friend’s vehicle. Later, Clark said he moved the trailer with his vehicle to Blue Mountain because they weren’t sure what to do with it. 

Clark is currently being charged with one count of felony theft. His friend is currently in custody as well, but has not been officially charged at this time. His friend is scheduled to appear in Missoula Justice Court on February 1, 2023. 

UPDATE at 4:36 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2023:

Clark's friend was identified as 36-year-old Brandon Griffith. Griffith is currently being charged with felony theft and two counts of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

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