Man Assaulted His Stepfather and Led Police on a High-Speed Chase in Missoula

On Monday morning, a Missoula Police Department officer was dispatched to an in progress burglary on Wapikiya Drive. The caller said his stepson, 40-year-old Andrew Cox, had broken into their house and then left in his 1999 Silver Cadillac.

When the officer arrived, he observed a female outside the residence. She advised him that her adult son, Cox, is currently staying in their shed. She said about two years ago, she and her husband legally adopted Cox’s son and now they have full custody. That morning, Cox came to the house and was yelling that he wanted his son from outside. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“The suspect male, Andrew Cox, was trying to get to a juvenile and had started physically assaulting the adults in the residence, causing injury and fear,” Arnold said. “Prior to officer’s arrival, Cox left the residence in a vehicle. Dispatch received several moving violation calls matching the description of the vehicle Cox was driving. An officer remained on scene at the incident believing Cox was going to return to the residence and continue to cause injury to the victim.”

Arnold said the officer was sitting in his patrol car when Cox’s vehicle came back to the residence. The officer told Cox to get out of the vehicle, but Cox refused and drove off.

“The officer got into his vehicle, activated his emergency lights and sirens, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop,” Arnold said. “Cox failed to yield. He put numerous drivers and uninvolved citizens at risk as he led police and assisting agencies on a pursuit involving multiple traffic violations. The Missoula Police Department, Highway Patrol, and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the pursuit.”

Ultimately, stop sticks were successfully deployed twice on his vehicle before he entered into Lolo. Despite hitting the stop sticks, he continued traveling at approximately 86 miles per hour. As he began to lose rubber from his tires near the “S” curves, his speed slowed. Highway Patrol was then able to conduct a successful “PIT” maneuver on the vehicle, causing Cox to lose control and come to a stop. Cox was taken into custody without incident and no injuries were reported as a result of the vehicle pursuit.

Officers spoke to Cox’s mother about the initial burglary. She said Cox broke a window, climbed inside her home, and started punching her 76-year-old husband in the face and stomach. When she tried to intervene, Cox threatened to strike her as well.

The officer then briefly spoke to the child. He said he heard what happened and was afraid Cox was coming to get him. He said he heard Cox tell his grandmother he was going to kill her. He said he hid in the closet during the incident.

Cox is currently being charged with aggravated burglary, criminal endangerment, two counts of partner or family member assault, criminal mischief, and fleeing from or eluding a peace officer.