Missoula Police Respond to Suspicious Activity on Brooks Street

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 2:58 a.m. on February 6, 2025, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to the CVS Pharmacy on Brooks St. for a report of suspicious activity. Two younger people on bicycles wearing all black were banging on a car in the parking lot and then gained access to it. A police car had driven by with lights and sirens and the two "booked it" away. 

The weather was in the teens, the roads were covered in ice and snow, and it was lightly snowing. These combined elements meant there was little vehicle traffic, and the vast majority of the public would not be out riding their bicycle.  

At 3:06 a.m., the officer turned on Stephens Ave. from Mount Ave. and immediately observed two males on bicycles wearing black clothing. The officer activated his emergency overhead lights. One male stopped, but the second male, later identified as 32-year-old Steven Neff, continued riding toward a gas station. The officer yelled at Neff to stop, but he continued to ride away into the gas station parking lot.  

Neff rode out of the officer’s view behind a large enclosed dumpster area. The officer heard what he believed was the sound of dumpster enclosure doors striking the dumpsters, or the dumpster lid closing.  

The officer eventually caught up to Neff and placed him in handcuffs. Then the officer learned Neff was on probation for the offense of burglary. Then the officer searched the enclosed dumpster area. There had been about six to eight inches of snowfall over the prior 24hrs and the dumpster's were about half full of garbage. The officer looked around the area and inside the dumpster's but found nothing of note.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Neff denied any involvement in a vehicle trespassing incident. During the search incident to arrest, an officer located a baggie of methamphetamine. The officer also located a baggie of cotton balls, a baggie with white residue, and two syringes on Neff’s person. 

Neff was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, obstructing a peace officer, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $10,000. 

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