Man Resists Arrest and Bites Missoula Sheriff’s Deputy

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 13, 2023, at approximately 7:44 p.m., a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched to a business in the 9300 block of Cartage Road for an employee that had been fired. The employee was not leaving the property and the owners were wanting the employee trespassed for the night.  

The employee, 58-year-old Tom Besherse, was in the company's truck and was asked to leave the property. Another deputy was advised that Tom was fired for having alcohol inside the truck. According to the business owner and his son, Tom also had made a statement about slashing the tires to the truck. They wanted Tom off the property and said he could return the next day to retrieve the rest of his items. 

According to court documents, Tom was intoxicated and trying to tell the responding deputies what to do. Tom was escorted toward the deputy’s patrol car and that is when he started obstructing a peace officer and then resisting. While trying to get Tom into handcuffs, he bit a deputy in the arm. 

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A deputy knocked on the door to the truck and spoke with Tom. Tom stated he had no money or anywhere to go. The deputy told him he needed to leave for the night and that he could give him a ride to the Poverello Center, if he wanted. Tom was irritable and stated a couple of times he didn't understand. The Deputy told Tom several times he needed to leave for the night.  

Tom advised he needed to get dressed and rolled the window up. As Tom was exiting the truck, he looked at a deputy and told him to move. Tom told the deputy to take three steps back. The deputy told Tom no and grabbed his right arm. The deputy told Tom to walk to his patrol car and started escorting him.  

After a couple of steps, Tom actively resisted. Tom moved his arm rotating it like a windmill trying to get the deputy to let go of him. Another deputy grabbed Tom’s left arm and they walked him to the car. Tom then tried to prevent the deputies from going to the patrol car by planting his feet in front of them. The deputies were able to get Tom to the patrol car and placed him over the hood.  

The deputy told Tom not to bite him again and eventually placed him into handcuffs. Tom was searched and placed in the back seat of the patrol car. Court documents indicate this arrest incident was recorded on a deputy’s body and car camera. 

Tom is currently being charged with felony assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing a peace officer. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.