Missoula Police Arrest Man for Possessing and Discarding Meth During a Foot Pursuit

Just before noon on Tuesday, Missoula police officers responded to the report of trespassing in progress at a residence in the 1700 block of Cooley street. While officers were in route, the complainant told police that the suspect was 34-year-old Eric Wilkins. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“Information was received that he had recently been evicted from the residence,” Welsh said. “When the officers arrived, a couple officers went to the front door and one went around towards the back. The officers knocked on the front door, but got no response. The officer who was moving around to the rear of the residence saw a male run out the back and towards the alley. The male attempted to flee the area on foot.”

Welsh says the officer chased Wilkins and ordered him to stop, but the man refused.

“The officer reports that the male turned around, looked at him several times as he was running away, and also began throwing things from his person out to the side of his path,” Welsh said. “The male quickly surrendered himself to the officer. The items that he tossed were soon collected. It was learned that he had methamphetamine during the foot pursuit, which he had discarded to the side.”

Wilkins was taken to the Missoula County Detention Center where he is currently being held for obstructing a peace officer, tampering with evidence, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. According to the jail, this is the second or subsequent time Wilkins has been arrested for possession of methamphetamine.