Missoula Man Threw a Rock at a Car and Broke a Gym’s Window on Russell

At around 1:52 a.m. on Wednesday, Missoula Police Department Officers responded the VRTX Gym at 255 South Russell for a report of someone breaking out a front window to the business. An employee was inside and was hiding upstairs, scared that someone may have gotten into the business.

An officer was driving southbound on Russell and he saw that a large glass pane was broken on a Mountain Line Bus Shelter to the north of the VRTX Gym, which led him to believe that there was a person who was intentionally breaking several windows while walking.

The same officer then located the broken window on the VRTX Gym, which was immediately adjacent to the front doors. The employee was called by dispatch to come outside since the officer was on scene and it was determined that no one had entered the building. The employee came out and the officer started coordinating with other officers to stop and question people who he had seen near or leaving the area.

At this time, the officer noticed a male dressed in all black on the east side of Russell Street at the southwest corner of JJ's Used Cars. He watched as the male leaned over and appeared to pick something up from the ground. A car drove by northbound on Russell Street and the male threw a rock at the car. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“When officers arrived on scene, they initially did not have a suspect male,” Arnold said. “As officers continued their investigation, the officers noticed a male, 34-year-old Michael Reynolds, standing across the street acting strangely. Reynolds then proceeded to start throwing rocks at passing vehicles. Officers told Reynolds to stop and Reynolds took off running from the officers.”

Eventually, an officer tackled Reynolds on the west side of Russell Street. Officers were attempting to get Reynolds into handcuffs, telling him to stop resisting and put his hands behind his back. Reynolds continued to physically resist and an officer informed him that he would be tased. Reynolds still resisted and an officer decided to tase him.

“Officers caught Reynolds where he continued to fight and tried to get away from the officers,” Arnold said. “Officers were able to take him safely into custody. They used to wrap restraint device to keep Reynolds safe and prevent Reynolds from continuing to fight and flail, causing injury to himself and possible officers.”

Reynolds was transported to the jail. Prior to being booked, he was medically cleared at St. Patrick's hospital without incident. Reynolds admitted to breaking the window to the gym structure as well as damaging a bus stop nearby. He also stated he ran from the police because he did not want to go to jail.

Reynolds was charged with felony criminal mischief, obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest.