Off-Duty Officer Spots Wanted Man in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On June 2, 2025, a Missoula Police Department officer was off duty in his personal vehicle driving near the Five Guys restaurant on East Broadway. The officer recognized a male on a bicycle, 42-year-old Sampson Adkins, through prior booking photographs.  

The officer was assigned to a recent incident involving trespass to a motor vehicle at the Big Sky High School. During the course of that investigation, the officer developed probable cause that Adkins committed trespass to a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, and theft. The officer decided to patrol the East Broadway corridor during his next shift to attempt to locate Adkins again.  

On June 3, 2025, the officer patrolled the East Broadway corridor and located Adkins in the parking lot of Noon’s convenience store. Adkins had entered the store. The officer followed and asked Adkins if his name was Sampson. Adkins responded that it was. The officer inquired if Adkins would step outside the store to speak with him.  

Get our free mobile app

Adkins Refuses to Speak

Before the officer could read Adkins his Miranda warning, Adkins advised that he did not wish to make a statement and asked to leave. Based on the previously developed probable cause regarding the high school incident, the officer informed Adkins he was under arrest. Adkins balked and argued about being arrested.  

While the officer attempted to place Adkins into handcuffs, Adkins tensed his muscles, and the officer was unsure if Adkins was either preparing to fight or flee. However, the officer was eventually able to successfully handcuff Adkins.  

During a search incident to arrest, the officer located a methamphetamine pipe that was brown with cloudy residue within the glass cylinder partially sticking out of the change pouch in Adkins’s right front jeans pocket. According to court documents, Adkins then advised he had “dope” in his other pocket. The officer located a Ziploc baggie containing methamphetamine. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Adkins was then transported to the Missoula County Detention Center. The product weight of the methamphetamine was over six grams. Adkins was remanded on a felony drug charge and separately on criminal mischief, trespass to motor vehicles, and theft for the previous incident at the high school. 

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