MPD Arrest Man for Swinging a Hammer at a Woman and Almost Hitting Her With His Car

At around 8:00 a.m. Friday, Missoula police officers were called to a motel in the 1100 block of West Broadway.  According to Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh, a male was trespassing in one of the rooms.

“While the officers were en route, the complainant also informed the 9-1-1 dispatcher that this same male had retrieved a hammer from his car and swung it at her after she confronted him and told him he had to leave the motel,” Welsh said. “When the officers arrived, they learned that the male had left the immediate area in a black colored sedan. However, they quickly located him in the alley on the south side of the motel and initiated a traffic stop.”

The male was identified as 27-year-old Barrett McGraw.

“Mr. McGraw was placed under arrest for assault with a weapon for the incident with the hammer,” Welsh said. “However, the officers also learned that as McGraw was driving away, he accelerated in reverse and his vehicle went towards the complainant and another person that was standing by the room they were in. The two people reported that they had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by McGraw’s vehicle.”

As a result, Mr. McGraw was also arrested for felony criminal endangerment. He is currently being held for those offenses, trespass to property, and possession of dangerous drugs.