Rock Used In Burglary Adds To Suspect’s Troubles In Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 1:24 a.m. on September 2nd, 2025, Missoula Police Department officers were dispatched to a reported burglary alarm at a business in the 2400 block of Brooks Street. There was a glass break at an unknown location in the building. Officers arrived and cleared the building, determining that no one was present inside at the time of their arrival. 

Officers entered the front door, which leads to the main merchandise area. There are numerous glass display cases that line the walls with various bongs, marijuana pipes, and various nitrous oxide canisters. One of the doors on the glass case on the east side of the building was broken.  

There was a rock on the ground that was about the size of a softball. There also appeared to be several nitrous oxide containers missing from the bottom row of items. An officer collected two rocks inside the building that appeared to be used to break open the glass door. 

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Officer Reviews Surveillance Video

The owner of the building provided an officer with surveillance video that captured the suspect breaking into the building. The suspect was a Caucasian male wearing what appeared to be blue running shorts, white shoes, no shirt, and a black hat. Another officer recognized the suspect as someone they had recently dealt with during another recent incident, in which the suspect was inhaling nitrous oxide at a dispensary. The male was identified as 24-year-old Jerry Truitt.  

The officer reviewed his body-worn camera from that incident and noted that Truitt was wearing the same blue shorts, the same white shoes, and the same black hat. Photos of Truitt and the suspect were compared, and it was believed that Truitt was the suspect from the September 2nd incident.  

During the previous incident, he was found in a black 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe. Truitt informed officers that he was transient but resided in Darby. Around 2:40 a.m., a corporal with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office alerted dispatchers that he had located the vehicle in the parking lot at Buffalo Wild Wings. The corporal responded with other officers, and there was no one inside the vehicle. The engine was cold to the touch.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

At approximately 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd, officers located Truitt in his vehicle and arrested him. During this process, officers observed a case of a nitrous oxide canister consistent with one of those stolen from the business on Brooks. 

Truitt was transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently being charged with felony burglary and criminal mischief. His bond was set at $75,000. 

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