Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 28th, 2025, at approximately 11:30 PM, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to the Poverello Center for a report of a person to be removed. Upon arrival, staff at the Poverello Center reported that a male who had been previously kicked out of the shelter for being aggressive was now back on the property attempting to get inside by slamming and pulling on the doors.  

Staff advised 9-1-1 that the male was now circling the building, but officers did not see anyone outside when they arrived so they went inside to speak with staff and assess the situation.  

An officer noted that earlier in the evening, at approximately 10:10 PM, they drove through the parking lot of the Poverello Center for an unrelated call. When the officer stopped to speak with one of the Black Knight Security officers, she advised that they had issues with a male who had gotten aggressive with staff. She identified the male as 32-year-old James White and said he was relatively new to the Poverello Center.  

White aggressively approached staff and tried to punch them, but the staff only called Black Knight and not the police because they did not want to pursue anything criminal related to this incident.  

Poverello Center Staff Wanted White Trespassed 

Now, staff said they wanted White to be removed and trespassed. Then White was seen on security cameras walking around the building. Officers went outside to speak with White and facilitate his trespass from the property. 

Officers immediately noticed that White was not wearing a shirt, which was odd as the weather was extremely cold. White seemed to be in a highly agitated state, pacing and muttering as officers tried to speak with him.  

An officer told White multiple times that he needed to gather his belongings and leave the property. At one point, White grabbed a rock from his pants and threw it in the officers’ general direction. White was far enough away that the rock landed a couple of car lengths in front of them.  

Officers decided to break contact and go back inside the Poverello Center to monitor White from the security cameras. About five minutes later, a staff member told officers that windows were being broken from the outside. Officers immediately went back outside to confront White. 

White Threatens to Throw Another Rock 

White noticed the officers’ arrival and turned quickly toward them with a rock in his hand. White was warned multiple times to drop the rock, but instead of complying with commands, he raised his arm back like a baseball player. An officer drew his department-issued handgun and again commanded White to put the rock down. White refused and suddenly threw the rock toward an officer who had to duck behind a vehicle to avoid being hit. 

After throwing the rock, White immediately began running east toward Hawthorne Street. Officers ran after White and watched as he retreated into an alley that was unlight, extremely dark, and icy. White eventually exited the alley and ran south toward West Broadway.  

An officer caught up to White and yelled at him to stop, but he did not comply. Then the officer told White that he was going to tase him and asked him to stop again. White did not stop and continued to run.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The officer deployed his taser towards White’s back but it was ineffective. White continued to run and the officer attempted to deploy his second set of probes but was unsuccessful. Eventually, several blocks later, White suddenly laid down on the ground and the officer detained him until backup arrived and arrested him. 

White was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony assault on a peace officer, felony criminal mischief, and criminal trespass to property. His bond was set at $5,000. 

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

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