Two Men Charged With Aggravated Burglary in Missoula
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On December 09, 2022, at approximately 10:03 p.m., Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Lolo Hot Springs for an assault that had just occurred. The reporting party stated two males broke into their cabin and assaulted her husband, John Doe. She advised the two males left headed toward Lolo in a silver-colored Chevrolet truck. The suspects were identified as Doe’s brother, Donald DeGarmo, and Nicholas Platz.
When deputies arrived, they spoke to Doe who said that he borrowed money from DeGarmo and that they had not spoken since. He said that was mostly due to Doe living at Lolo Hot Springs and not having service.
Go Upstairs and Shut the Door
Doe said he heard banging on the door and opened it. He saw that it was his brother and that Platz was with him. Doe said he told them both to leave, but they refused. At that point, Doe told his daughter to go upstairs and he tried to shut the door at the same time. However, DeGarmo and Platz burst through the door and began pushing Doe through the house despite his best efforts to keep them out of the residence.
Doe said that he grabbed a hatchet that was by the front door and tried to defend himself with the handle side, but that it was too late. DeGarmo and Platz pushed Doe backward into the residence bathroom and Doe fell to the ground. They both proceeded to assault him.
Doe stated DeGarmo had ahold of his arms while Platz had him in a chokehold with his arm wrapped around his neck. While doing this, Platz was also punching Doe in the face multiple times. Doe stated the strangulation lasted about thirty seconds and that he saw spots in his left eye when he was punched.
Deputies Observed Multiple Injuries
Around that time, Doe’s wife came downstairs and tried to pull them off of Doe. DeGarmo and Platz then left the location and Doe's wife called 911. A deputy observed several large contusions on Doe’s face, on both of his eyes, the left side of his neck, and on his nose. He also observed several lacerations on Doe’s face. Doe also said that he believed that his nose was broken.
Deputies learned that the suspects were supposed to be in Platz’s truck, which was described as a silver mid-2000s Chevrolet Silverado. At approximately 2:00 a.m., a deputy radioed that he had located the suspects leaving Transolution Lane in different vehicles. Several deputies responded, and conducted a traffic stop on DeGarmo who was ultimately placed under arrest.
Another deputy observed the Silverado near Highway 93 South and Miller Creek. The deputy said he initiated a traffic stop after observing the vehicle straddling the center line of the road and taking up both lanes. The driver pulled over to the right side of the road.
The deputy approached the vehicle, confirmed the driver was Platz and ordered him out of the vehicle. Platz was placed under arrest at that time and was also investigated for driving under the influence. Doe’s missing hatchet was later observed in the backseat of the truck.
DeGarmo is currently being charged with felony aggravated burglary and partner or family member assault first offense. Platz is currently being charged with felony aggravated burglary and DUI first offense.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.