Missoula Man Attacks Poverello Center Staff With a Blow Torch

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 4, 2024, at approximately 11:43 a.m., a Missoula Police Department Officer was inside the Poverello Center for another call when a staff member approached and wanted to report an incident that had just occurred. The staff member reported that she was threatened by one of their clients, 36-year-old Richard Schreck, and that he also assaulted another member of the staff.  

The staff member stated that she was checking people in for lunch when she saw Schreck enter the center. She explained that Schreck had been placed on an “out” from the Poverello and that he was not supposed to be inside the building.  

According to court documents, Schreck then grabbed a blowtorch out of his pocket and put it in the other employee’s face. The officer interviewed the other employee who stated Schreck pulled out a “click button torch” out of his pocket. He stated that he took a step back but Schreck raised the blow torch approximately six inches away from his face, lit the torch, and then told him “I’ll burn your a**”. 

Schreck then attempted to lunge at the employee’s face with the lit torch, but the employee reacted by smacking the torch away and ordering Schreck to leave. The employee stated that Schreck told him that he was going to “burn him alive”. 

While Schreck was walking out of the door, he stated to the first staff member, “You’re gonna die”. She said Schreck had a history of assaulting staff before and she would not “put it past him to do it again”. 

A short time later, officers found Schreck walking west on Pine Street and placed him under arrest. An officer asked Schreck if he had any weapons on him and Schreck became argumentative. The officer then specifically asked Schreck if he had a blow torch on him and he stated that he did. Officers performed a search incident to arrest and found a handheld blow torch in his right pocket.  

Schreck was then transferred to the Missoula County Detention Facility without further issue. He is currently being charged with two counts of felony assault with a weapon. On January 5, 2024, Schreck made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $40,000. 

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