Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – On August 14, 2024, Missoula Police Department officers were called to a report of a theft that had just occurred at Walmart on US Hwy 93 S. An officer was notified that a man had stolen groceries and fled the scene on a red bicycle. The officer found the man in an alley on Kemp Ave. The officer made contact with the man and stated that he matched the description of a person who had just committed a crime.

The man identified himself as 31-year-old Steven Neff. Neff admitted to stealing a few packages of steak and a tool from Walmart. Neff said he was staying at the Johnson St. Shelter. The officer learned through dispatch that Neff had previously been evicted from Walmart on January 11, 2024. The officer also learned that Neff had been charged with trespassing and theft at the Walmart on Mullan Rd. on March 17, 2024. According to court documents, Neff returned to Walmart several times and was asked to leave the building, but he refused.

The officer asked Neff for permission to search his backpack and recover the stolen goods. Neff hesitated, but allowed the officer to search the bag containing the food. The officer found two packages of steaks, two bags of instant mashed potatoes, and a tool.

Neff was arrested. The officer conducted a search to arrest him and found a small zippered bag in Neff’s pocket. Neff refused to consent to search his backpack. Neff was taken to the Missoula County Detention Center. The jail refused to accept Neff’s backpack and he was taken to the police station for safekeeping.

The jail conducted an inventory of Neff’s belongings, including the zippered bag. Jail staff found a syringe in the bag that appeared to contain crushed methamphetamine. Additionally, jail staff discovered a small clear baggie containing a substance that appeared to contain methamphetamine. Officer Smith took the suspected methamphetamine to the police station, where she tested the substance with the TruNarc machine and returned a positive result. The officer conducted an inventory of Neff’s backpack and found several new syringes and a glass drinking straw.

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports

Upon further review of Neff’s criminal history, the officer found that Neff was charged on April 3, 2024, with two counts of theft, trespassing, obstruction of public order, and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from an incident at Walmart.

Neff is currently charged with burglary and criminal possession of dangerous drugs.

The information in this article was obtained from publicly available sources.