Lockdown Right Call, Suspect Still At Large

February 9, 2014 in Montana

by lizard

In the midst of our deep freeze, Missoula had a little excitement last Thursday when two armed robberies triggered a University lockdown. Other schools and businesses also took precautionary measures.

The suspect—who is still at large as I write this—appeared to resemble a 28 year old man, Kevin Briggs, who escaped custody in Bozeman. Earlier in the week police put out an alert that indicated Briggs had ties in Missoula and was presumed to be armed and dangerous.

Yesterday, the Missoulian reported that there is nothing to suggest the armed robber is Kevin Briggs. Police think Briggs may have already left Missoula on a bus. At least that is what they are saying in the paper. I’m not so sure.

Kevin Briggs has escaped custody three times now, this last time in leg shackles. Personally, I think it was Briggs who pulled off the two armed robberies, slightly changing his appearance after holding up the Motel 6, then slipping away as police swooped in.

Putting UM on lockdown was the right call. Students may have laughed it off on twitter, but they are lucky events didn’t take a violent turn on Thursday.

I think Kevin Briggs is still in Missoula, and the indication he may have left via bus could be a ruse set up by the suspect to send police on a wild goose chase. The police may know this, and are using the media to make it look like they’ve taken the bait. I know that sounds like a bad movie plot line, but for some reason I think that scenario is plausible.

Stay alert, Missoula.