Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 20, 2024, at approximately 10:43 AM, a Missoula Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a suspended license. The officer pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Russell Street and South 4th Street West. During the duration of the stop, the passenger verbally identified herself as 42-year-old Melody Matranga. 

Matranga exited the vehicle and placed her purse on the hood of the patrol car. The driver gave consent to search the vehicle while on the road, which yielded various drug paraphernalia including tinfoil with burnt residue, multiple “tooter” straws, and Narcan.  

As a result of these findings, an officer asked Matranga for consent to search her purse but she declined. Later during the investigation, she told an officer that her purse contained drug paraphernalia. 

Since she had already declined consent to search her purse, it was seized, and she was informed that a search warrant would be applied for. The driver and Matranga were released from the stop and the purse was transported to the police department.  

An officer applied for a search warrant, which was granted. During the search, an officer located two balloons, two used syringes, four small plastic baggies, a yellow pick with residue on it, two-needle caps, four tooter straws, and a small plastic baggie with methamphetamine inside. The officer also located a Montana ID and a debit card with Matranga’s name on both. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

While still at the scene, Matranga provided a phone number to notify when the purse was ready to be picked up, which the officer did at approximately 12:56 PM. At approximately 4:50 PM, Matranga showed up to the Missoula Police Department to collect her bag. The officer walked outside to meet her and immediately informed her that she was under arrest. The officer handcuffed Matranga and escorted her to her patrol vehicle without incident.  

While walking, the officer could see, in plain view, a metal “tooter” straw in her front jacket pocket. When confronted, Matranga claimed it was not hers and she just put on the coat. The officer advised Matranga that she was wearing the same coat she was wearing earlier in the day. According to court documents, she still stated someone else must have worn it when she wasn’t and put the paraphernalia in it. A search incident to arrest yielded four more tooter straws, two picks, another balloon, more tin foil with burnt residue, and a plastic baggie with white residue. 

Matranga is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.  

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

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