Homeless Woman Threatens an Owner of a Trailer With a Knife

Just after 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Missoula Police officers responded to the area of Cooley Street and Cowper Street for a report of a burglary. The complainant stated her and her partner owned the camper trailer and were renovating it for hunting and camping purposes.

When the complainant arrived home, she noticed the trailer’s vent and windows were open. She entered the trailer, expecting to find her partner. However, she found a strange female instead. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“The complainant stated that she found an unknown person inside a trailer and that the person did not have permission to be there,” Welsh said. “During the course of that contact, the suspect threatened her with a knife. When the officers arrived, they encountered the complainant who was clearly upset. She stated that the female suspect left the scene on foot.”

The complainant also reported that the suspect had a hammer with her. She said she yelled at the suspect, asking how she got into the trailer, to which the suspect replied “with my hammer and my knife.”

The suspect then stood up and grabbed an eight inch fixed blade knife, held it out towards the complainant and stated this was her trailer. The complainant reported that the suspect placed the knife down and began grabbing items. The complainant said the suspect took her pillow and walked out of the trailer.

“She provided a description and other officers in the area soon located 52-year-old Tonya Carey,” Welsh said. “Ms. Carey was taken into custody at that time and officers continued their investigation, which resulted in Ms. Carey being transported to the Missoula County Detention Center.”

The officer found Carey lying down in a lawn chair a short distance from the camper. Court documents indicate Carey thanked the officer for arresting her, stating she had no place to go to sleep. Carey told the complainant that she was sorry, that she was homeless, and that there were no resources for her in town.

Carey was charged with felony aggravated burglary and felony assault with a weapon.