Update 1 p.m. May 21 

Kelsey Staigmiller, 31, has been arrested on felony robbery in connection with the May 18 incident in downtown Great Falls that killed 50-year-old Great Falls resident Sarah Bailey.

Staigmiller was booked into the Missoula County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.

Prosecutors are planning to file additional charges, such as felony homicide and counts of criminal endangerment as they investigate the incident.

Around 6 p.m. May 18, Great Falls Police officers were dispatched to a report of a disturbance near 6th Street South and Central Avenue at the Roberts Apartments.

GFPD said that through investigation of the incident revealed that Staigmiller, who was not a resident of the building, had been reportedly disturbing the peace of several residents there and had become locked out of the building as a result.

When Staigmiller couldn’t get back into the building, she unlawfully entered and occupied the vehicle Bailey was driving nearby.

There was an altercation between the two and “as the vehicle was driven away in a highly dangerous and erratic manner, [Bailey] sustained significant injuries that resulted in her death,” according to GFPD.

Shortly after the initial incident, Bailey was found in the street near the intersection of 5th Street North and 1st Avenue North.

Lt. Matt Fleming of the GFPD said that first responders rendered life saving measures but were unsuccessful.

Fleming said they have no evidence at this point that Staigmiller and Bailey knew each other.

According to her Facebook page, Bailey owned Sparrows and Arrows tattoo shop at 524 Central Ave.

Staigmiller fled Great Falls in Bailey’s vehicle and was located a few hours later by Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies near Bonner, according to GFPD.

GFPD said at 9:11 p.m. May 18 that the suspect and vehicle taken from the scene had been located.

Fleming said GFPD received numerous calls regarding the initial incident and related to Staigmiller’s erratic driving afterward.

“Staigmiller was not initially cooperative with the MCSO deputies, who applied several less-lethal tools and techniques to bring her into custody,” according to GFPD.

Staigmiller will be transported to the Cascade County Adult Detention Center and face charges in district court here.

Staigmiller does not have a felony criminal history in Cascade County, according to County Attorney Josh Racki.

She appears to be from Great Falls based on a search of local court documents, social media and local news reports.

“We extend our most sincere condolences to the friends and family of Sarah Bailey, as well as the others in the community who have been impacted by this senseless crime. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, and our other public safety partners who assisted in this investigation,” GFPD said in a release.

Community members and downtown business owners have expressed shock and sadness at Bailey’s death.

A USPS mailman was collecting signatures on condolence cards along his downtown route on May 20 for Bailey’s family.

Staigmiller’s immediate and extended family asked The Electric to release this statement on behalf of the family:

“Kelsey’s family would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to Sarah Bailey, her family and this community. She was a beautiful artist who touched many lives. Sarah was an innocent victim and there are no words to express the pain and grief Kelsey has caused Sarah’s family and the community. We pray for peace and hope for all who have been affected by this tragic event.”

Anyone who believes that they have information that could assist in this investigation is asked to contact Det. Travis Burrow of the GFPD at (406) 455-8505.

The following is from charging documents filed in district court in Staigmiller’s case.

The first GFPD officer was dispatched to the Roberts Apartments on reports of two females arguing about drugs and “sounded as if the disturbance was going to become physical.”

The officer reported that as he was responding, additional information was relayed that the suspect, later identified as  Staigmiller, had exited the building and just stolen a truck from a female outside. Callers reported that Staigmiller had pushed the owner out of the truck and she was being dragged on the roadway, according to court documents.

When the first officer arrived at the Roberts, several witnesses told him Staigmiller had just left in the stolen truck, last seen westbound on 1st Avenue North, the wrong direction.

More officers began arriving in the area when an additional call came in reporting a female had been hit by a truck, likely the stolen truck, according to court documents.

The initial responding officer responded to the 100 block of 5th Street North where the victim was in the roadway being attended by another officer. A witness ran toward the officer to report that the suspect truck had just left and was last seen westbound on 2nd Avenue North, according to the charging documents.

The officer got into his patrol vehicle searching the immediate area for the truck but doing nothing so returned to the Roberts Apartments where he spoke with witnesses.

One witness was walking southbound on 6th Street South when he heard and saw the disturbance, but didn’t know what led up to it, according to court documents.

The witness said he saw a female with “dirty blonde red hair” get into the passenger seat of the truck and begin pushing the driver, Bailey, out of the vehicle, but she was caught in the seatbelt, being dragged as Staigmiller continued northbound on 6th Street North before turning westbound onto 1st Avenue North.

Another witness who lives in the Roberts told officers that she heard a disturbance between two females and saw Staigmiller exit a room, then running toward a white truck occupied by a female driver.

The witness told officers that Staigmiller got into the passenger side, starting to fight and push the driver out through the driver’s side door. Bailey fell out of the truck, but was caught in the seatbelt as Staigmiller drove away, dragging Bailey, according to court documents.

The GFPD officer canvassed the immediate area for video surveillance of the incident and met with someone at the Times Square building. That video showed the white truck parked on the east side of the intersection, in the parking spot closest to the intersection with Central, according to court documents.

At 6:05 p.m., Bailey is seen entering the driver’s side of her truck and at 6:06 p.m., Staigmiller is seen entering the passenger side, according to court documents.

Another officer interviewed another witness at the GFPD. The woman said she lives in the Roberts and had an unknown female buzzing her apartment trying to get inside saying she needed to speak with her. The witness said she didn’t know who the woman was and went downstairs to speak with her, but someone had already buzzed her into the building.

The witness said she met Staigmiller on the stairs and Staigmiller kept saying she needed to speak to the witness. Staigmiller followed her up to her apartment, pushing her in and closing the door, according to court documents.

The witness told officers that Staigmiller refused to leave, saying she wanted meth, heroin and cocaine, sitting on the floor, holding the witness’ dog to her, according to court documents.

The witness’ daughter called and Staigmiller took her phone, which the witness was able to get back and called 911. When Staigmiller heard dispatch on the line, she fled down the hall, knocking on another door.

An upstairs tenant came down, running Staigmiller out of the building, according to the witness, who didn’t see the incident outside of the building in the truck, according to court documents.

A third GFPD officer interviewed another resident of the Roberts, who said that someone she knew had come over to hang out and drink, bringing another male and Staigmiller with him.

The male left shortly after, but the acquaintance and Staigmiller stayed in the apartment, where Staigmiller was trying to prostitute herself to others in the building, including another interviewed witness, for more alcohol and asking for drugs, according to court documents.

The witness got upset and kicked Staigmiller out of the apartment and said she saw Staigmiller sit on the curb before running across the street and jumping into Bailey’s truck.

The witness said she saw Staigmiller push Bailey out of the truck and drive away, dragging Bailey.

Two witnesses tried to follow the truck to help Bailey, but lost sight of it, instead finding Bailey in the street in the 100 block of 5th Street North.

One of the men drinking in the apartment was located and he told officers he’d been with someone named Kelsey.

Officers were able to find a booking photo of Staigmiller in the GFPD database and compared it to the video surveillance.

Staigmiller was found inside the truck in Missoula County wearing clothes similar to those visible in the video surveillance from the Roberts Apartments, according to court documents.