Convicted felon nabbed for alleged Stillwater Crime spree
A convicted felon landed himself back in prison last week after allegedly going on a mini crime spree in Stillwater County.
Joshua Roy Vires, 36, was arrested last Wednesday, Nov. 4, after he allegedly tried to break into an occupied semi truck at an I-90 rest area, stole and crashed a farm truck at the Yeagan overpass and was found at a residence on Ponderosa Ridge Road that had been burglarized.
Stillwater County Undersheriff Chip Kem said investigations into the local crimes are ongoing but that Vires was arrested on a probation warrant. He has already been sent back to prison in Deer Lodge, according to Kem and the Correctional Offender Network website (CON).
His criminal history includes a 2012 burglary conviction in Dawson County and a 2012 criminal possession of dangerous drugs in Missoula County. according to CON.
Stillwater problems
Vires came under local law enforcement scrutiny when a female semi driver called 911 at 8:42 a.m. to report she awoke to a man trying to break into the tool box of her semi truck, according to Stillwater County Sheriff’s dispatch records. She provided a vehicle description of an older flatbed truck. Deputies and MHP troopers responded and notified Sweet Grass County officials.
At 9:15 a.m., a car later determined to belong to Vires was found wrecked off I-90, near the Yeagan overpass, parked near a private driveway, said Kem. Authorities believe that Vires then stole a yellow farm truck from a nearby ranch and drove it to the rest stop, where the incident with the semi occurred. That stolen farm truck was later found wrecked on Pine Crest Road, said Kem.
Around noon Vires was located just outside of a home on Ponderosa Ridge Road and arrested by Columbus Police Officer Ed Thompson and Deputy Randy Smith. Kem said it was later determined that house had been burglarized. Kem said authorities believe that Vires had been inside the home.
Kem said he anticipates several charges being filed against Vires when the investigations are complete.