Missoula Man Caught With Stolen Trailer and Motorcycle

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On June 9, 2025, a male called 911 to report that his trailer and raft were stolen from Grant Creek Self Storage in Missoula County between 6/7 and 6/9/25. He provided the trailer license number and description of the raft. A Missoula County Sheriff's Office detective obtained surveillance video that showed a white Oldsmobile Bravada following another vehicle through the security gate without entering a code on 6/8/25.  

It was unclear if the two drivers were working together or if the Bravada slipped in. The Bravada left with the trailer and raft. A deputy was able to match the Bravada to another police investigation. The vehicle had been seized before with evidence tape placed on it, and the evidence tape was still visible in the surveillance video. The vehicle was previously driven by 27-year-old Richard Nygaard, but was owned by someone else.  

On June 10, 2025, the detective went to the Bravada owner’s address, and the vehicle was there. The van that the Bravada followed into the storage unit was also there. Nygaard exited the Bravada's driver's seat. He was nervous and fidgety. The detective knew Nygaard from previous interactions. The passenger was the owner of the Bravada.  

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Helping Someone Move the Trailer

At first, Nygaard denied knowing anything about the trailer. When the detective told him there was video, Nygaard said some guy named "Animal" told him he needed help moving a trailer. Nygaard said the trailer was near Franklin Park. Other officers went to that neighborhood and located the raft, but it was on another trailer.   

The detective then asked the Bravada owner if he knew Animal. He said he had never heard of him and had never seen this person with Nygaard. He also said that Nygaard had possession of the Bravada at the time of the theft.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Nygaard was sitting on a trailer. The detective looked closer and realized it was the stolen trailer. On top of the trailer was a Kawasaki motorcycle that was reported stolen on 4/22/25. There were no leads at that time. The value of the motorcycle has not been confirmed, so it is currently being charged as a misdemeanor. 

Nygaard is currently being charged with felony theft (second offense), criminal trespass to property, and misdemeanor theft.  

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