Clark Announces Run for Missoula County Sheriff

MISSOULA - My name is Josh Clark. I am a Democratic candidate running for Missoula County Sheriff and Coroner. On Monday, April 9th, I participated in a candidate forum at the Seeley Lake Community Center.

While waiting for the forum to start, I learned that someone had hung derogatory signs against me and Travis Wafstet, another Sheriff candidate on the exterior of the building. We are both running against Sheriff McDermott. I went outside and took the signs down, knowing the organizer of the forum said only candidates could post signs.

Shortly after, my wife and I went out onto the front porch with the event organizer. One of Sheriff McDermott's previous supporters also came out. This man is the father of a former Missoula deputy that is currently under investigation by the Montana Department of Justice for use of excessive force. When my wife and I tried to return inside, this man would not let us through the door.

My wife and I felt intimidated, harassed and threatened by him. We knew this man was armed. He was wearing a semi-automatic pistol on his right hip with a large hunting knife behind it. I was unarmed except for a pocketknife. My wife had to scream for help from Deputy Sergeant Bob Parcell and even after Parcell intervened, this man threatened to take us out back and show us "old west justice."

Shortly after this incident, Sheriff McDermott arrived with Undersheriff Maricelli and the Sheriff's secretary. Imagine my surprise and shock when I saw this man walk up to McDermott and Maricelli and shake their hands and talk in a friendly manner. Sheriff McDermott is the one that requested the state investigate his son for excessive force against a handcuffed prisoner.

Why didn't this man show any animosity toward McDermott? Because I publicly put pressure on McDermott to investigate his son. Three other deputies witnessed and complained about the use of force and yet McDermott did nothing until I brought it to the public's attention.

IT TOOK MCDERMOTT FIVE MONTHS TO SAY ANYTHING PUBLICLY ABOUT THIS INCIDENT!

Travis Wafstet and I both addressed the issue of the derogatory signs at the forum but Sheriff McDermott stayed silent. To the best of my knowledge McDermott still has not said anything publicly about the signs or the intimidation incident. One would think that the Missoula County Sheriff would make a statement, decrying the actions of this man, regardless of whether or not he is a political supporter. Sadly, intimidation and retaliation seem to be the norm in the Missoula County Sheriff's Office under the leadership of Sheriff McDermott.

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW...ESPECIALLY NOT COPS.

The Seeley Lake and Condon areas need better coverage from the Missoula County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff McDermott promised three resident deputies, yet there is currently just one resident deputy. When elected Sheriff, I promise to protect your rights and provide better law enforcement coverage for the Seeley Condon area.

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