Man Scares Woman With ‘Large Scissors’ in Downtown Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 2, 2026, at approximately 7:00 PM, a 911 caller reported that a man near a bar in downtown Missoula had a large pair of scissors and was jumping towards people. The caller said the scissors looked like a large pair of hedge trimmers. The caller described the individual as a white adult male wearing brown pants, a black shirt, and carrying a backpack.  

Missoula Police Department officers were dispatched to the area to try to locate the suspect. There were numerous crowds in the downtown area due to Griz Homecoming. An officer located a male matching the description on the southwest corner of Pine Street and Ryman Street.  

The male was in possession of a large pair of hard plastic scissors. An officer saw that the male had the large scissors slotted between his back and his backpack. A male in a vehicle, John Doe, saw officers standing with the male and contacted an officer.  

Eyewitness Account: A Scary Encounter

John said that the male who was detained jumped out towards his wife, Jane Doe, with the scissors, and that she had left the area scared and crying. John stated that he was walking with Jane and their daughter down the sidewalk. The male jumped out at Jane holding the scissors and making a verbal statement to the effect of “on guard.”  

The officer spoke to Jane over the phone. She said that she was scared when the male approached her and her daughter and lunged towards her, pointing what she believed to be a dagger or small sword. Jane said that she thought the male was going to stab her. The Doe’s were able to get away from the male and walked to their car, and that’s when Jane began crying.  

The detained male verbally identified himself as $42-year-old Jakob Birdsley. Birdsley said that the scissors were fake and that he was spinning the scissors on his finger. He said that he was not threatening anyone.  

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Alcohol Involvement: The Aftermath of Disturbance

While speaking with Birdsley, an officer detected the odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath. The officer separated the scissors and asked Birdsley what he thought the item looked like. Birdsley stated that it looked like a sword. Birdsley was asked about making the statement “on guard” to Jane. Birdsley stated that he could not remember if he said, “on guard.”  

Birdsley was placed under arrest. He consented to a preliminary breath test and provided a .143 BAC. Then he was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony assault with a weapon. His bond was set at $500. 

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