Police Tase Man who was Burglarizing a Missoula Business

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 2, 2023, just before midnight, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a report of possible trespassing in the 2300 block of South Avenue. An officer responded and spoke to the 911 caller.  

The caller said he confronted the source of the noise and observed a suspect male, later identified as Justin Dooley, tossing items around and trying to pull a canoe off of one of the callers’ vehicles. The caller described Dooley as wearing no shirt, no shoes, shorts, and having lots of tattoos. Once confronted, the caller observed Dooley walk eastbound, but he was unsure where Dooley went from there.  

Check the Open Door

While the officer was speaking with the caller, they both noticed an open door at the property next door. Dispatch began to advise that they had also started receiving alarms coming from that property. The officer ended the interview and began to assist other officers who arrived on scene to clear the building they suspected the male had entered.  

Officers entered the room and quickly heard noises they described as rummaging. One officer noted that these noises made them believe that Dooley was within another interior door and possibly what sounded like the drop ceiling.  

The officer gave loud and clear announcements to Dooley, identifying as the Missoula Police Department, and instructing him to make himself known. The officer repeated these commands several times, which included telling Dooley that he was under arrest and that force may be used against him if he did not comply. 

Court documents indicate the rummaging noise continued and became less subtle. The officer was worried that Dooley was trying to get into the drop ceiling and may be able to escape from another exit. Dooley’s noises determined that he was behind a closed door that had been locked from the inside. 

Officers Determined Force was Necessary

An officer began to attempt to force entry into the room by kicking the door, giving verbal commands while doing so. It was readily apparent that Dooley had begun barricading the door with items found inside that room. The door was eventually able to be partially opened, and an officer was able to observe a shirtless, tattooed, white male inside the room after illuminating it with a flashlight. While the officer was trying to gain access into the room, Dooley began throwing items at the door. 

Officers deployed both chemical agents and tasers into the room to force Dooley out of the room, but these attempts were unsuccessful. An officer then saw Dooley fall through the drop ceiling of an adjacent room. The officer pointed his duty handgun at Dooley and gave him verbal commands. After further noncompliance, another officer drew his Taser and warned that he would tase Dooley if he took any action that was not directly pursuant to commands.  

Dooley began walking away towards a table with numerous blunt objects on it. To prevent any further escalation, an officer tased Dooley and placed him in handcuffs.  

Video surveillance captured Dooley gaining entry to the locked business by hitting the exterior keypad with a rock that eventually breaks and allows him to enter. Damage Dooley caused to the doors, the shelving, the ceiling, and the electronic keypad were substantial and are currently estimated to cost $1,600 to $2,000 repair. 

Dooley is currently being charged with felony burglary, felony criminal mischief, and criminal trespass to property. On January 4, 2023, Dooley made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bail was set at $25,000. 

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