I am tinkering around the house this morning and just got reading the Missoula Indy. I blogged a while ago about how safe it was to stroll downtown Missoula at night. As I read the article entitled “Pattern of violence” I get even more concerned.
Missoula police say they haven’t noted a spike in the number of assaults in Missoula-which average 15 to 25 a week-and are not investigating the fights as gang activity. Detective Guy Baker, who oversees the gang unit for the police, says he’s aware of the boxing connections, but doesn’t regard the fact as relevant.
“Unfortunately, sometimes people like to fight in our society,” he says.
15 to 25 people getting assaulted a week, what the hell is going on! Turn your heads people, it isnt happening to us. That is a shocking statistic and followed by a shocking statement. Just kids being kids … right.
Sam Riddle, a former University of Montana basketball player, was beaten up at a Lewis and Clark Village apartment after celebrating his 25th birthday with his sister and her boyfriend at Stockman’s Bar. Three of the five men charged in the burglary and assault, which broke Riddle’s jaw in four places, held boxing licenses and boxed at the Wilma last year.
…
Then, Sept. 18, Mila Gergen and Ryan Knight, both 17, allegedly attacked Ben Corbett, 25, breaking his skull and causing brain damage, at the corner of Broadway and Ryman Street. Corbett’s friend Tyler Drake, of Seeley, was beaten unconscious when he tried to help
…
Oct. 15 beating of University of Montana students Wally Catton and Marcus Chebul, both 21, on Higgins Avenue left Catton with a broken jaw, a tripod fracture to his cheekbone and a mild concussion.
And what is the opinion of some people involved?
“That’s part of life, people fight in the street and then they go to jail,” says Russ Hansen
My conclusion … it is safe in Missoula as long as your tooling around your house. Go out and your in danger! Man, I better get home before it gets dark.
Boneshakerbike 
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