Caught in the Act: Trespasser Arrested in a Missoula Home

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On September 18, 2024, a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of Colorado Avenue. The call regarded a male, later positively identified as Justin Stroup, who was reportedly trespassing on the residence he had been previously evicted from. The caller was a contractor doing work for the owner of the property.  

The contractor stated that he had been working on the property when Stroup, who had been evicted on September 5, 2024, had shown up at the residence, cussed him out, and entered the property.   

The deputy arrived on scene and looked around, but was ultimately unable to locate anyone on the property. The deputy noted that there were not any doors or windows on the residence, but no trespass signs were clearly posted on the exterior.  

A short time later, a neighbor contacted dispatch to report seeing Stroup in the residence. The deputy arrived back at the residence and noticed that all the windows and doors had now been covered up with either wood or tarps and that there was insulation strewn throughout the yard. The deputy noted that none of these same doorways or windows were covered up the first time he responded to the address.  

The deputy went to the back door, which was covered with a tarp, pulled the tarp down, and observed Stroup standing in the entryway. The deputy ordered Stroup to exit the house and to place his hands behind his back, which he did without issue. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Then the deputy investigated the property for any damages. It was readily apparent that Stroup had just removed a considerable amount of insulation from the attic which was strewn about the yard. It appeared that he had also removed siding from the exterior and had fixed wood barriers on most of the entry points. 

The deputy contacted the contractor by phone and described what he had discovered. The deputy asked the contractor to estimate a monetary amount for the damages which he estimated was approximately $3,000 between the siding and insulation. 

Stroup was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony burglary. 

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