Day: October 10, 2022

by Travis Mateer

Over the summer I’ve gotten to know a guy on the streets named Doug. Last July I wrote a short piece about Doug and his claim that his grandpa, Norris Bradbury, worked on the Manhattan Project. Then, in September, I saw Doug get arrested, which I filmed and posted here.

When I first met Doug in July he told me about a situation that landed him in intensive care. Apparently Doug had been in jail for several months, then was released briefly, got drunk, and was arrested again, but upon discharge from jail, he supposedly had a seizure related to alcohol withdrawal.

Is that what really happened? According to Doug’s medical records, which he shared with me and asked me to document, there is some skepticism stated by the medical professionals about this supposed scenario.

When I ran into Doug yesterday (October 9th) his arm was in a sling. According to Doug, his injury occurred as a result of an arrest for being a disorderly person who failed to disperse. Doug further speculated that his swift discharge from jail was because they didn’t want to be financially responsible for his medical care.

Here’s the booking info from Doug’s latest arrest:

And here’s Doug talking about what happened to him, recorded yesterday afternoon in downtown Missoula:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/758570143?h=b8eeca4d0c&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

And here’s Doug’s medical report from his latest injury at the hands of law enforcement:

Instead of just blaming law enforcement for the violent experiences Doug claims to be having, I’m going to direct my proverbial finger at our elected leaders and the homeless industrial complex for creating a situation where people like Doug languish on the streets, frustrating the boots-on-the-ground people to the point of dangerous burnout.

Yesterday I interviewed another person on the street after she panhandled me for money. I initially said no to the request for spare change, but after giving it some thought, I grabbed a dollar from my studio and offered it to her in exchange for an interview, to which she agreed.

Before posting the brief interview, here’s a little background on Lorenna: she’s been on and off the streets for many years and is one of the more challenging people to work with. Though she’s in housing currently, she doesn’t have case management, and her behavior indicates she isn’t taking medication properly. I know one local coffee shop that has had to ban her because of her behavior. Here’s the interview:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/758733505?h=b9895e66b8&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

While I don’t condone violent behavior from anyone, the context to our current predicament as a community when it comes to addiction, mental illness, and the inability to manage keeping a roof over one’s head is important to keep in mind.

After today’s Bear Tracks bridge virtue-signaling ceremony is over, I hope some more tangible reasons for that $5 million dollar crisis mill levy are provided to voters instead of vague platitudes and emotional manipulation.

Ballots go out VERY soon, so time is of the essence. Thanks for reading! And if you value this content, please click here and consider donating.

by Travis Mateer

Imagine, if you can, the horror of losing your daughter. Add to that the suspicion that your daughter’s death didn’t happen the way authorities say it did. And then add a local media industry that can’t, or won’t, report on the mounting evidence that something is seriously wrong.

And why hasn’t the media reported on the mounting evidence?

Because, for over a year, there hasn’t been a criminal investigation. No investigation means nothing for conventional media to report on.

Well, that all changed on September 6th in the Rebekah Barsotti case.

Or did it?

The ON/OFF button is a simplistic way of describing how those in power seem to be able to play both sides of legal fences. This could be claiming a case is active or inactive, open or closed, or methods of determining how cases will be treated depending on the need of the moment, like shifting jurisdictions and other things I’m not ready to get into yet.

Returning to what changed on September 6th will be significant when understanding how impressive this ON/OFF button can be because the existence of a criminal investigation at the state level was made by David Barsotti’s counsel, Mineral Deputy County Attorney, Wally Congdon, and Judge Jason Marks.

The reason all these people were discussing a criminal case being conducted at the state level is because a lingering question regarding Rebekah Barsotti’s personal items–specifically, her laptop–is making a discussion about the criminal case necessary.

Where is the laptop now, how did it get to where it is, and why is it there? These are some basic questions a new player is this saga is trying to off-switch by claiming there is no state-level investigation into the circumstances of this case.

I don’t think this new player is ready for his close-up yet, so instead I’ll try to contextualize why I hope a criminal investigation is indeed happening, and that’s the strange case of David Barsotti’s caregiver, Sheila S.

I’m withholding Sheila’s last name for the time being because I hope she’s ok. Why do I hope Sheila S. is ok? Because of the unhinged, 17 paragraph email communication sent in her name to Rebekah’s Facebook page.

There are many reasons to think this is NOT Sheila, but I’m not going to get into any of that. You see, this is where something called INVESTIGATORS should be coming in to do their job. And if the local authorities in Mineral County are incapable, then state authorities need to step in.

Calling in the Division of Criminal Investigation is something Lance Jasper, a lawyer for Reep, Bell and Jasper, claimed should’ve happen LAST NOVEMBER in a Mineral County Commissioner meeting. To hear otherwise from that unnamed button pusher in the AG’s office is very strange.

Hopefully confirmation will come that there is indeed a criminal investigation. Then, who knows, maybe local media will finally get interested in this case. Anything is possible.

Thanks for reading! And if you’re feeling generous, you can find the donation button at my about page.