MPD Arrest Woman for Burglary and Possession of Meth

At around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a Missoula police officer responded to Mr. T’s Storage for the report of a burglary. The officer met with the complainant who reported that her specific unit had been broken into and that the lock on the door was missing. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“The officer reviewed surveillance video where he observed a female in a silver colored car, with a specific license plate, loading things into the car and then subsequently leaving,” Welsh said. “Through the investigation efforts, they were able to identify not only the registered owner of the car, but the person who had been associated with it recently. That person was identified as 35-year-old Tara Wilson.”

At about 1:10 a.m. on Wednesday, an officer located that same vehicle in the parking lot of the Econolodge. According to court documents, the officer observed some items in the back seat of the vehicle. He spoke with the owner of the storage unit and determined those items matched items taken from the storage unit.

“They were also able to learn that Wilson was in fact checked into this motel and had not paid for her room yet,” Welsh said. “The desk clerk informed the officers that her method of payment had been declined and they wished her to be removed. The officer made contact with Wilson in the room and placed her under arrest for the burglary.”

Inside the motel room, officers located a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine. As a result, Wilson is being charged with one count of burglary and one count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs.