Missoula Woman Pepper-sprays Bookstore Employee

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On February 6, 2026, Missoula Police Department Officers were called to the Barnes and Noble at 2640 N. Reserve Street for a report of an employee who had been pepper-sprayed. While officers were responding, 60-year-old Erin Riggs called in to identify herself as the person who had pepper-sprayed the employee, John Doe. Riggs stated that the employee was following her and that the employee was about to attack her. 

An officer made contact with Riggs, who was sitting on a bench. Then the officer received information from other officers regarding the investigation and placed Riggs under arrest. Riggs was read her Miranda rights, and she agreed to speak. Riggs denied remembering being trespassed previously.  

The officer informed Riggs that over the last few days, managers had been removing her and telling her she was trespassed, but Riggs stated she had never been trespassed. Riggs stated that because the staff had been so rude to her, she had written a letter to the US Attorney General about how they had treated her. When asked for examples of how she was treated, Riggs stated she didn’t remember. 

Get our free mobile app

Another officer spoke with an assistant manager who explained that she had trespassed Riggs from the store three days prior. The manager stated that Riggs had frequently been coming into the café section of Barnes and Noble and causing problems. The manager reported Riggs had been coming in, falling asleep inside, and getting “very loud.”  

The manager further stated that Riggs had ruined multiple chairs in the store by urinating on them, which was the final straw for the store. The manager stated that Riggs had been told multiple times by multiple people that she had been kicked out, but Riggs would still return. The manager stated that when Riggs was told in the past to leave, Riggs was “grumbly” about it but was cooperative. 

Then the officer spoke with a witness/employee who works in the café with John Doe. She reported that John Doe “very nicely” told Riggs that he would still get her the coffee she ordered, but she needed to immediately leave. She said Riggs responded poorly and began “freaking out.”  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

John Doe began to walk Riggs out, and she began hurling obscenities at him. The manager stated that John Doe never touched Riggs. When Riggs and John Doe made it outside, Riggs turned around and pepper-sprayed John Doe in the face. There were at least two other eyewitnesses who recounted similar reports to law enforcement. 

Riggs was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. She is currently being charged with felony aggravated burglary.  

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