Alleged Gang Member Threatens Missoula Man With a Box Cutter

At around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Missoula Police Officers responded to the report of a male who had brandished a knife and took a man’s car keys in the 1200 block of West Broadway. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“The officers responded and made contact with the victim who said he was sitting in his car with the windows down when an unknown male approached him and asked for a cigarette,” Welsh said. “The victim reported that the suspect pulled out some sort of knife and said ‘you better watch out, you're going to get got’. The man in the car climbed over to the passenger side, got out of the car, and ran off a short distance.”

According to court documents, the victim told the male he would sell him a cigarette for 50 cents but the male declined. The victim stated after he left the car, he noticed the suspect remained near the driver door for several moments.

“When he returned to it, he discovered that his car keys were missing,” Welsh said. “They keys had been in the ignition. The officers located the male about a block away and identified him as 29-year-old Zachary Mitchell. Mitchell was found to be in possession of a utility knife that matched the description that was given by the victim. Mitchell was also wearing the same clothing the victim described.”

During the arrest, Mitchell called Officer's the N-word and talked in slang. He also made numerous statements that he was MS-13, from the Santa Rosa area, and claimed area code 707. He then threw up a gang sign and stated "blood in blood out."

Mitchell was eventually transported to the Missoula County Jail and he is currently being charged with felony robbery.