Woman With Several Warrants Gets Caught With Drugs in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 2, 2023, a Missoula Police Department Officer was patrolling the area of Dixon Avenue and Schilling Street. The officer saw a silver Jeep illegally parked without a front license plate. The officer ran the license plate on the back and it did not match the records of the license plate for the Jeep.  

The officer observed a female, later identified as 30-year-old Ashley Richardson, get into the car and begin driving. The officer conducted a traffic stop. It was determined through dispatch that Richardson did not have a valid driver’s license and had several warrants for her arrest. 

The officer had Richardson exit the vehicle and observed a baggie with white residue between the driver’s seat and the door in plain view. The officer further observed a blue pill in the door pocket of the driver’s door. Richardson was mirandized and agreed to speak to the officer.  

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Richardson admitted at first that all property inside the vehicle was hers. Richardson told the officer she used to do drugs, but “not anymore”. Richardson admitted she used to use meth and “dabbled with blues”.  

The officer explained what he observed and asked Richardson for her thoughts on what it was. Richardson stated it “probably is a blue”, which is a common street term for fentanyl. Richardson then became emotional and denied the pill and baggie were hers. Richardson was arrested.  

The officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for the Jeep. The officer located two torch lighters, two pieces of burnt foil, a small zipper-style baggie with residue, and two blue pills imprinted with “M” and “30”. The officer knows through training and experience that such pills are commonly fentanyl pills.  

According to court documents, Richardson was recently charged with a string of burglaries in Missoula County District Court, pending a finding of probable cause. Richardson also has several warrants for her arrest for misdemeanor thefts, trespasses, and a traffic offense. 

Richardson is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. On October 4, 2023, Richardson made her initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and her bond was set at $25,000. 

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.