Missoula Police Arrest Man for Allegedly Stealing a Car in Havre

At around 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, a Missoula Police officer was patrolling near the 400 block of Washington Street. According to Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh, the officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the area.

“The officer ran a license plate on a vehicle that was parked in an apartment complex and it returned stolen out of Havre, Montana,” Welsh said. “The officer approached the vehicle and observed a person sleeping in the car. That person was awakened and questioned about the car. He refused to identify himself, but he had indicators of identity that the officers made other observations of and they were able to positively identify him as 35-year-old Preston Caldwell.”

Welsh says the officer continued his investigation and discovered further information.

“They had previously learned that Preston Caldwell had been identified as a suspect in the Havre case and that there were outstanding warrants for him,” Welsh said. “He was placed under arrest for those warrants and theft of the vehicle he was occupying. He was also in possession of the car owner’s credit card.”

Caldwell was taken to the Missoula County jail. He is currently being held for felony theft, outstanding warrants and misdemeanor theft. According to the Missoula County Attorney’s Office, the charges will be filed in Hill County, Montana.