SEELEY LAKE – Law enforcement responded to two burglaries in the area over the weekend. The suspect Travis Burgess, 43, was detained Sunday while involved with another alleged burglary in Missoula with Kasey Hugs, 35. Both are in the Missoula County jail on felony burglary charges. Burgess has also been charged with felony criminal mischief and Hugs was charged with obstructing a peace officer.
Saturday morning, Feb. 29 around 5:30 a.m. It’s Ah Wrap on Highway 83 was entered and items were stolen. Law enforcement said they had information, including video surveillance, that narrowed the possible suspects.
While they were still investigating, the StoneFly Bar and the Clearwater Stop N Go at Clearwater Junction was broken into Sunday morning around 4:30 a.m. There was a lot of damage done to the building and the ATM was stolen from the bar.
Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Robert Parcell investigated. He put out an Attempt to Locate to other law enforcement in the area including the vehicle and possible suspects based on the evidence.
Parcell said he received feedback from Missoula Police Department that pointed him towards Burgess and Hugs. Based on this information, Parcell said he put out another Attempt to Locate for them Sunday afternoon. They were allegedly involved in another burglary at Red’s Towing in Missoula. Burgess was found and detained in a vehicle outside. Law enforcement captured Hugs while she tried to flee the scene.
Law enforcement believes all three burglaries were associated. Burgess was arrested and charged with burglary, a felony, and felony criminal mischief at It’s Ah Wrap. Parcell said charges are pending for Burgess at the StoneFly Bar and Clearwater Stop N Go
Hugs was charged with burglary, a felony and obstructing a peace officer for the incident at Red’s Towing. Parcell said she is not connected to the burglaries in Seeley Lake and at Clearwater Junction at this time.
Parcell reminds businesses to be vigilant. During his investigation, it appeared that there was casing of businesses going on and suspicious people and vehicles were noticed. The suspects were noticed in the area for at least a week to 10 days prior to the burglaries.
“People thought that it was suspicious and were watching these folks but they didn’t report it,” said Parcell. “If it had been reported, it would have been checked out and people would have been identified long before the incident happened.”
Parcell reminds the community that law enforcement would rather be proactive instead of reactive.
“We would rather go out and check out 100 folks and find out nothing is going on than not check that one and find out this happens,” said Parcell. “In this case we were lucky and professional enough to determine who it was.”
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