Robber Punches Missoula Store Manager in the Face

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 13, 2026, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to the Secret Seconds Store for a report of a robbery. The complainant, an employee, said a female was in the store refusing to leave. The female was stealing items and punched the manager in the face. She was also wearing stolen items underneath her clothing.  

Officers arrived on scene and located the female, who was later identified as 39-year-old Tifani Engavo. An officer yelled at Engavo to stop, but she continued walking away before she was detained.  

Another officer responded and spoke to an employee. The employee said she was watching Engavo and saw her holding multiple items of clothing that were not paid for. Engavo began walking out of the store without paying for the items.  

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Confrontation Escalates: Employee and Suspect Clash

The employee attempted to reason with Engavo and then reached for the items. When the employee reached for the items, Engavo pushed, kicked, and punched the employee. Engavo did an “open palm strike” to the right side of the employee’s face. The employee then grabbed Engavo’s leg before the two eventually separated.  

Then Engavo left with items she did not pay for. Another officer provided Engavo with Miranda, and Engavo agreed to speak. Engavo said she was inside the store and was told to leave by a female, but did not know the female was an employee. Engavo told the female she was not done shopping. She said the female grabbed her body and told her to leave. Engavo said she pushed the female employee with one hand “by her face.” 

Officers subsequently arrested Engavo. Engavo was searched incident to arrest and two pairs of gloves from Secret Seconds were located. Engavo claimed she got the gloves from the Poverello Center, but the tags were still on them. Engavo also had a pair of sunglasses, which were confirmed stolen from the store. 

Discovery of Controlled Substances: A Deeper Investigation

Engavo’s backpack was taken to the police station for safekeeping, where an inventory search was conducted. An officer located a syringe in Engavo’s backpack that was subsequently destroyed. While completing the booking process at the Missoula County Detention Center, staff located a grey long-sleeve shirt/sweater with a store tag still on it.  

Staff also located a small metal canister containing three and a half round pills that were green in color, marked with “TEVA” on the front and “833” on the back. An officer identified the pills as Clonazepam, also known as “Klonopin”, which is a schedule IV drug. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Engavo is currently being charged with felony robbery and felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Her bond was set at $5,000. 

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