Missoula Police Pursuit: Dog Tries to Bite Officer, Owner Flees

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On December 7, 2024, at 4:45 PM, a Missoula Police Department officer was on patrol and located a male, 26-year-old Richard Nygaard, who had a no-bond arrest warrant. The officer observed a vehicle associated with Nygaard parked at a gas station on Russell Street and Mount Avenue.  

The officer drove into the lot, parked behind the vehicle, and approached it. The officer informed Nygaard that he had a warrant for his arrest. Nygaard had two dogs with him. One of the dogs jumped up onto the officer twice and tried to nip him.  

Nygaard started the vehicle, jumped in the driver’s seat, and drove off. The officer got back into his patrol vehicle and began to pursue Nygaard. Nygaard failed to stop at a posted stop sign and turned east onto Mount Ave. Nygaard turned northbound into an alleyway just west of Stephens Avenue and continued to blow through intersections without stopping at Knowles Street, West Harlem Street, West Addison Street, West Bickford Street, and West Franklin Street.  

The officer was traveling through the alley at approximately 39 miles per hour and was not catching up with the pursuit. Nygaard’s vehicle finally came to a stop after crashing into a fence in the alley near the intersection of the alley and Crosby Street. Nygaard then fled on foot.  

Officers eventually located Nygaard hiding in a small narrow area between a shed and fence located in the 600 block of Rollins Street. Nygaard was lying on his back and was given repeated verbal commands to exit the area with his hands visible. Nygaard did not obey commands and remained lying on the ground. 

After being warned that officers were going to deploy a less lethal 40 mm impact launcher, the 40 mm was launched. Nygaard again did not respond or exit from the area between the shed and the fence. A second 40 mm was deployed. At that point, Nygaard began slowly complying with commands to exit the area and he was taken into custody. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The officer contacted a Probation and Parole officer and informed him of Nygaard’s arrest. The PO requested a probation search of Nygaard’s vehicle. During the search, the officer located a hypodermic syringe, numerous other syringes, a small digital scale, and two baggies of methamphetamine.  

Nygaard was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, obstructing a peace officer, fleeing from a peace officer, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $250,000. 

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