Man Arrested after Explosion at Downtown Missoula ATM

At about 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, Missoula police were called to the ATM at the First Security Bank location on East Broadway for a report of an explosion.

Police spokesman Travis Welsh picks up the story.

“9-1-1 received a call that an ATM had just exploded at the First Security Bank branch on East Broadway,” said Welsh. “Officers arrived and found a very heavily damaged  ATM and spoke with witnesses who reported seeing an elderly white male in his 60’s with gray hair, clean shaven and with no glasses. They observed him pouring probably a flammable liquid onto the ATM and then threw some kind of ignition device at the ATM which caused it then to explode before he drove away westbound on Main Street in a gray minivan.”

Welsh said the van has been located and there are two individuals were detained.

“We have two people detained and the investigation is ongoing,” he said. “One of the people detained does match the description given of the suspect. The bank itself was closed down due to recent storm damage. There were no other explosive devices found at the ATM, and there is no estimate of the damage done by the explosion.”

57 year-old Guy Murray Culligan was arrested late Thursday afternoon and charged with felony arson, criminal mischief and possession of a destructive device. The Missoula County Jail Roster says Culligan is being held on $50,000 bail.

(photo courtesy of NBC Montana)