A police officer walked into a bar – but this isn’t a joke.Late on Friday, a Missoula police officer walked into a downtown bar and left his patrol car on the 200 block of Ryman Street.

“He went there for a fight,” said Missoula Police Sgt. Jim Klawitter. “He was looking for a witness, and when he returned to the car, it was gone.”

Scanner chatter had a man wearing pajamas and an Elmer Fudd hat hijacking the vehicle for a destination just a few blocks away. Several minutes later, the car, apparently intact and unharmed, turned up near the Elks Lodge at Front and Pattee streets, Klawitter said.

“No one was charged or arrested, but there is a possible suspect on video, and police are investigating further,” he said.

He wasn’t sure if the car could be described as having been “stolen,” or if it was better to say it got taken on a “joy ride.” The thief or borrower could be charged with theft of a motor vehicle, a felony, or perhaps a lesser charge.

Klawitter wouldn’t say if the officer who lost his vehicle is being teased or gently harassed, although one could see the possibilities.

“No comment.”

Such thievings or borrowings don’t happen often, Klawitter said. In this case, he said the officer hit the electronic key fob to lock the patrol car. Either he didn’t hit it quite right, or the lock just didn’t connect.

Somehow, the car doors weren’t locked, and with that particular vehicle model, a driver doesn’t need a key to start the engine if the key fob is within a certain distance of the car.

So either the car was still running – or the carjacker was able to start the car because the fob was within range. Either way, it was a recipe for a short and illegal trip through downtown Missoula.

Soon enough, the officer recovered the car, and Klawitter figures he didn’t have to hoof it.

“I’m assuming they didn’t make (him) jog several blocks to (his) car. (He) probably got a ride,” he said.