Missoula Police Catch Man With Approximately 3,600 Doses of Meth

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 30, 2023, Missoula Police Department officers received a 911 dispatch to respond to a request for a welfare check on an individual who appeared to be sleeping in his vehicle on Dixon Avenue. An officer responded to the area around 4:25 a.m. and noticed a male in the driver’s seat who was later identified as 41-year-old Darrin Reber. 

The officer approached the driver’s side and immediately observed a glass bulbous pipe with white residue sitting on the center console. According to court documents, the officer believed that the pipe was used to smoke methamphetamine. 

The officer saw that Reber was breathing and his chest was moving in a normal fashion. He then requested additional officers to respond. While waiting for other officers, Reber awoke, turned on his vehicle, and rolled his window down. The officer asked Reber if he was ok and Reber said that he was. 

Reber Resists Officer's Commands

The officer asked Reber to step out of the vehicle, but Reber declined. The officer observed Reber look to the center console and reposition his body to block it from the officer’s eyesight. Another officer arrived a short time later and Reber was again asked to step out of the vehicle. 

An officer opened the door and Reber immediately buried his right hand out of site, despite multiple commands to show his hands. Officers attempted to remove Reber and told him to get on his stomach, but he again refused to comply.  

Officers forced Reber on his stomach and Reber immediately pinned his right arm between himself and the ground. Reber was warned if he did not produce his hands, he would be tazed. The officer deployed his taser and Reber complied. 

Reber was placed under arrest and transported to receive medical care. An officer applied for a blood warrant based on his suspicion that Reber was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence. The warrant request was granted. Additionally, it was found that Reber was on probation for a previous drug offense. 

Officers Locate More Drugs

The officer contacted a Probation Officer who requested a search be conducted of Reber’s vehicle. Officers began the search a located a bag of a white powdery substance that later tested positive for cocaine. Officers also found a digital scale and a gallon-sized zip-lock bag with a white crystalline substance that appeared to weigh a few pounds. That substance later tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 1.77 pounds, which equates to 802 grams. Additionally, officers found 10 grams of heroin. 

Officers also found two phones, one tablet, one laptop computer, one 100-gram calibration weight, two glass pipes, another small bag of meth weighing 1.7 grams, and a large baggie containing a large amount of unused small Ziplock bags. 

According to court documents, a typical dose of heroin is 0.1 grams, indicating that the quantity of heroin in the vehicle was equivalent to nearly 100 doses. Methamphetamine is typically used in .25g to .5g doses, indicating that the quantity of meth in the vehicle was the equivalent of 1,600-3,200 doses. 

Reber’s DUI blood results are still pending. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest.  

On March 31, 2023, Reber made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $25,000. 

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