Man Breaks Into Missoula Hotel Room, Leaves Odd Evidence

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 8:30 a.m. on November 16, 2024, a Missoula Police Department Officer was dispatched to a report of trespassing/possible burglary at the Fair Bridge Inn. The details of the call said there was a male who broke into a room, climbed out the window, and left eastbound on Brooks.  

When the officer arrived, another officer had already detained the suspect, 30-year-old Anthony Moreni, on Old Hwy 93 just north of the incident address. The officer went back to the hotel to speak with staff and complete the investigation. 

The officer spoke to a hotel employee who said Moreni went into the breakfast area, took a muffin, and was asked to leave. After Moreni left the breakfast area to go back out through the front doors, the employee watched him walk around the corner, and crawl into the window for room 111.  

At that point, she called 911 because Moreni wasn’t supposed to be inside that room, which is currently under construction. Then the employee watched Moreni crawl back out of the window and start walking east toward the casino in the same parking lot. 

Officers Entered the Room 

Officers cleared the room to make sure no one else was inside. They had to walk through the window, as the “slapper style” door lock had been latched, so the door couldn’t be opened from inside the hotel. Prior to opening the unlocked window, the officer noticed multiple smudge marks on the window consistent with someone pushing it open from the outside, and there was no screen on the window.  

Inside the room, there was a bottle full of apparent urine, a cup with Q-Tip’s, a cigarette butt, and a couple of drink cups and bottles. The heater was also turned up quite high and the room was very warm. An employee told the officer that the heater should be turned off or down very low, as there is no one in the rooms at night when the construction crews aren’t working on them. It was apparent to the officer that someone had turned up the heater while illegally occupying the room. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

A short time later, the officer was able to watch video footage and took multiple still shots of both Moreni stealing and eating the muffin while trespassing, as well as him coming out of and going to and from the window for room 111. 

According to court documents, construction staff and an employee said that the room smelled like cigarette smoke and would therefore need to be re-painted to cover up the odor before it could be rented out, as it had been freshly painted as part of the renovation. 

Moreni was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently being charged with felony burglary and obstructing a peace officer.  

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