Missoula, MT – A 38-year-old Missoula man, Thomas Scull, has been arrested multiple times for stealing food from local stores and consuming it without paying. Scull’s ongoing criminal behavior has drawn the attention of the Missoula Police Department, who have had frequent contact with him since September 2024.
Scull’s run-ins with law enforcement began on September 26, 2024, when he was charged with obstructing justice and disorderly conduct. Just a few weeks later, on October 18, Scull was arrested for theft at Yokes Fresh Market. According to court documents, Scull was uncooperative and violent during his arrest, resulting in additional charges for resisting arrest and criminal mischief. He also had prior theft convictions at the time.
The pattern of theft continued when Scull was caught stealing food items from Walmart on November 18. Despite being previously trespassed from the store, Scull returned and was charged with theft and trespassing. The following week, on November 24, he was apprehended after stealing items from the Orange Street Food Farm.
However, it was his repeated actions at Yokes that garnered the most attention. On October 24, Scull was arrested for burglary at Yokes after being caught stealing merchandise from the store. At that time, the Missoula County Attorney’s office deferred filing charges to monitor his behavior. Scull had already been trespassed from Yokes multiple times, with the store managers explicitly telling him not to return.
In a concerning turn of events, on November 29, Scull was again reported by Yokes for stealing food and consuming it in an employee-only back room. This marked at least the fourth time in a five-week span that Scull had been caught engaging in similar behavior at the store. After being confronted by police, Scull admitted to eating food he had not purchased and acknowledged his trespassing status at Yokes.
As a result of the ongoing thefts, Scull was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is now facing two felony burglary charges, with a bond set at $500. These charges are pending in Missoula Municipal Court, and law enforcement continues to monitor his actions as part of an ongoing investigation into his criminal behavior.
Despite repeated interactions with the police, Scull’s thefts show no signs of stopping, and the Missoula community is left questioning what measures will be taken to address his escalating criminal conduct.
