Man Arrested for Theft After Victim Tracks Him Down in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 1:18 p.m. on February 17, 2025, a Missoula Police Department Officer was dispatched to a report of theft that occurred. The 911 caller, John Doe, stated he had hired a moving company to help him with his move to Missoula. Today, he stated that one of the employees of the moving company, 32-year-old Christopher Saucedo, had stolen his wallet. 

Doe was certain it was Saucedo and said the other employee provided him with Saucedo’s information. Doe’s wallet contained an Apple Air Tag, his military ID, an Amex Card, two other bank cards, his Georgia Driver’s License, and around $80 in cash. 

Doe showed the officer that the Air Tag was pinging in the area of the Poverello Center, which is where Saucedo was dropped off after work. After a long search, officers were unable to locate Saucedo or the wallet. Doe was advised to call 911 if the location for the wallet changed or if he received any more information about the location of his wallet.  

At around 4:50 p.m., Doe called 911 stating that he had located Saucedo near the Citi Lodge. Doe told 911 that Saucedo had gone into a room at the Citi Lodge. An officer responded to the area and saw Saucedo walking towards her. Saucedo was taken into custody. The officer knew that Saucedo was on probation for theft. The officer completed a search incident to arrest of Saucedo and then placed him into the backseat of her patrol vehicle.  

The officer did not locate a firearm or Doe’s wallet on Saucedo’s person, so she decided to try and backtrack where Saucedo had come from to see if he had ditched either of them. A male who had been sitting on the back patio of the apartment complex next door said Saucedo ran around the building before coming back to the south side where the officer located him.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The officer followed the shoe prints in the snow around the apartments and located Doe’s wallet under one bush and the cards/IDs from Doe’s wallet near a different bush. The officer confirmed the shoe prints she had been following matched the tread on Saucedo’s shoes.  

Saucedo was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. During the booking process, jail staff located a pink plastic “tooter” straw, tinfoil with burnt residue, and a blue M30 Fentanyl pill on Saucedo’s person.  

Saucedo is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft. His bond was set at $5,000. 

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