Missoula Deputy Catches Copper Radiator Thief
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On September 4, 2025, a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was dispatched to the I-State Truck Center for issues regarding trespassers. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a manager who reported the theft of truck parts from a metal container located on the south side of the building. The manager said that the area was designated for collecting truck parts for recycling and storing parts. He said these items are sold to Pacific Steel and are used to generate extra income for the business.
The manager provided the deputy with game camera photos from September 5, 2025, from around 9:49 PM. The photos depicted a male approaching the metal container and an older model four-door blue pickup. The manager provided two additional photos that were dated September 9, 2025, at 3:15 AM, where the male suspect was seen again looking into the metal container. This time, the suspect was driving a white SUV.
The deputy circulated the photos to the Sheriff’s Office and found a detective who recognized the blue Ford pickup depicted as belonging to 39-year-old Simon Ashby.
Large Copper Core Bus Radiator is Stolen
On September 12, 2025, the deputy met with the manager again at the I-State Truck Center. The manager reported that around September 5, a large copper core bus radiator went missing from the south side of the building. The manager said the radiator had been removed from a large bus belonging to a client in Polson. He said he would be required to replace the old radiator, and the cost would be $6,000.
The deputy began calling around to the recycling yards and eventually spoke with Modern Recycling. An employee informed the deputy that they had two separate transactions with Ashby on September 9. In one of these transactions, they purchased a 56-pound copper radiator from Ashby. The radiator had been stripped down to its copper core, meaning that all the housing, tanks, and hoses had been removed, leaving only the valuable copper material.
The employee stated that a typical pickup truck copper radiator yields around 25 to 30 pounds of copper. The copper core that Ashby sold them yielded approximately 56 pounds of copper. Modern Recycling paid Ashby $1.35 per pound, totaling $75.50 for the radiator.
A Deputy Locates the Suspect in Turah
On September 12, 2025, a deputy located Ashby driving his blue Ford F250 in the area of Turah. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on Ashby based on the theft and based on Ashby not having a driver’s license.
The original deputy conducted an interview with Ashby and learned that Ashby believed the items were free because he often dumpster dives and viewed the location as public. Ashby specifically mentioned taking a radiator, which he stated he sold to Modern Recycling.
According to court documents, Ashby offered to pay I-State Truck Center the cost of replacement for the radiator. Ashby claimed ignorance, stating that since there were no signs indicating he could not take the radiator or other items from behind I-State Truck Center, he believed he was free to take what he wanted. The deputy told Ashby that I-State Truck Center is private property and that the items he took belonged to them. Ashby acknowledged that he understood.
READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports
Ashby was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently being charged with felony theft.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.
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