At around 7:30 Monday night, Missoula police officers responded to the report of a disturbance in the 1100 block of West Broadway. The complainant reported that several individuals were engaged in a physical disturbance across from the Poverello Center. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“When the officers arrived, they made contact with a male and identified him as 38-year-old Dustin Guardipe,” Welsh said. “Mr. Guardipe had claimed that he had been assaulted and was injured. The officers requested EMS to respond to provide aid to the gentleman and then they began to investigate the incident. The officers made contact with a separate male and a female who each claimed that Mr. Guardipe had threatened them with a small knife during the course of the disturbance.”

According to Welsh, officers continued their investigation and got statements from everyone involved.

“In fact, the male stated that he had observed Mr. Guardipe physically assaulting the female before he attempted to intervene,” Welsh said. “When he did so, he reported that Mr. Guardipe threatened him with a knife. The officers made contact with the female who confirmed that she had been in a disturbance with Mr. Guardipe and that he had also threatened her with a knife.”

Based on the witness statements and evidence that was recovered at the scene, Guardipe was placed under arrested. He was transported to the Missoula County Jail where he is currently being held for assault with a weapon.

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