Missoula Float Trip Turned Into a Theft Case

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 12, 2026, at approximately 12:12 a.m., Jane Doe called 911 to report a theft and requested a phone call from a deputy. A Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy called Doe, who stated that she and her friends floated the river on July 11 from Bandman Bridge to the Madison Street Footbridge. Doe explained that 23-year-old Kyler Richards picked her and her friends up at her residence and dropped them off at Bandman Bridge in East Missoula. Doe and her friends left their property in Richards’s vehicle as he was to then pick them back up at the Madison Street Footbridge.  

However, Doe stated that once they got out of the river, Richards was not there and no one was able to contact him. Doe reported that she had left her leopard-print purse in Richards’s vehicle, which contained her Social Security card, ID, debit card, and approximately $500-$600 cash. Doe's friend also stated that her boyfriend's cellphone, which she believed was an iPhone, was also in the car next to her belongings.  

Later that same day, a male reported that his property was also in Richards’s vehicle. He stated that when they finished floating the river, they were unable to contact Richards because he had blocked their phone numbers and social media accounts. He reported that the property Richards stole included his purple iPhone 14 Pro Max, valued at $1,200 new, possibly $800 in its current condition, a pair of black Nike Air Force 1’s, a black leather Guess wallet with red stitching valued at $150, $100 in USD, his ID, and various other documents.  

Get our free mobile app

The deputy confirmed that Richards was on felony probation and made several unsuccessful attempts at contacting Richards via phone call. The deputy then contacted and updated the on-call probation officer before attempting to contact Richards at his listed residence. Upon arriving at his residence, the deputy contacted Richards’s parents, who said that Richards no longer lived there and was homeless, living out of his red 2008 Acura. 

After further investigation, the deputy went to the Town Pump at the south end of Lolo and noticed Richards near the front doors of the business. The deputy exited her patrol vehicle and ordered Richards to come to the front of her patrol vehicle, where she placed Richards under arrest.  

The deputy again updated the on-call probation officer, who requested a probation search of Richards’s vehicle. During the vehicle search, the deputy did not find any of Doe’s belongings. However, in the center console of Richards’s vehicle, the deputy did find a small clear plastic baggie of methamphetamine. The on-call probation officer requested that the deputy charge Richards with a felony probation violation. After his arrest, the male’s Nike shoes were recovered from Richards’s vehicle and were returned to him. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Richards is currently being charged with felony theft and felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. His bond was set at $30,000. 

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