Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – On August 18, 2024, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Missoula Police Department officers responded to a call to Walmart on Mullan Road where a person was being removed. Upon arrival, an officer encountered a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) who advised that Walmart was having ongoing issues with 36-year-old James Belisle. Belisle repeatedly entered the store premises and stole merchandise from the store.

The LPO said Belisle repeatedly stated he would continue to return to Walmart despite knowing he was trespassing. The officer confirmed that Belisle had been reported multiple times for shoplifting at that property, resulting in multiple 911 calls. These reports for similar behavior were filed on June 5, June 6, June 17, June 18, July 17, and August 17.

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The officer found Belisle in aisle 18 and saw that he was carrying a backpack containing merchandise. The officer made contact with Belisle and sent him to the Loss Prevention Office. The officer asked Belisle if there was anything hidden in the backpack he was carrying and he stated, “No.”

As they approached the exit, the officer again asked Belisle if he had any items in his backpack that had not been paid for. Belisle again said no. The officer then instructed Belisle to go to the Theft Prevention Office. Belisle refused and threw down the backpack, which was confiscated by the LPO.

When the backpack was searched, merchandise such as alcohol, deodorant, Legos, and other miscellaneous items that also belonged to Walmart were found inside. According to court documents, the total value of the merchandise was $71.06. Officials immediately confirmed that Belisle had been permanently banned from the property on June 8, 2024.

Belisle was arrested and taken to the Missoula County Detention Center. He is currently facing burglary charges and his bail has been set at $2,500.

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