Missoula Citizen Follows Drunk Driver Until Police Arrived

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 28, 2024, at 7:15 PM, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a reported hit and run collision that occurred at Elevated Dispensary on Brooks Street. An officer arrived at the business and observed a large three-foot hole in the building. There were tire tread marks leading up to the building, across the curbs on the sidewalk, and on a parking curb. 

The officer entered the business and contacted an employee who stated that she was in the room and would have been hit approximately 30 seconds before the crash. She stated that she had just left to grab some water and enjoy the sunshine due to the lack of customers inside the store. Shortly after she left, the truck hit the building.  

The officer continued investigating by contacting one of the complainants who stated that she was traveling south on Brooks Street when she noticed some erratic driving behavior out of the corner of her eye and then heard a bang. She looked and saw a truck "barrel" into the building. 

Witness Follows the Suspect Vehicle 

She decided to follow the vehicle to ensure that law enforcement would be able to find it. She was concerned that the driver was going to hit another vehicle. She continued to follow the vehicle until it finally stopped at the intersection of Sussex Avenue and Grant Street where the driver got out of the vehicle. She pulled into the gas station and stayed there to maintain visual contact of the truck until law enforcement arrived. 

Officers responded to the location of the vehicle and contacted a male near the intersection of Johnson Street and South Avenue. The male was positively identified as 59-year-old Joe Hansen. Hansen stated that he had been “walking from the Sunrise Saloon” and had not been driving.  

Hansen admitted that he had been drinking while at the Sunrise Saloon, and while speaking with him, the officer observed that Hansen had urinated on his pants. Hansen’s speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot, and he swayed as he stood. The officer also observed that Hansen would have mood swings and would go from being cooperative to argumentative. The officer also noted the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming off Hansen’s breath. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Officer Conducts a DUI Investigation 

The officer began to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests with Hansen, but Hansen was argumentative throughout the entire process, stating that he had not been driving. The officer observed 8 out of 12 indicators of impairment before Hansen refused to finish the remainder of the tests. 

The officer read Hansen the Preliminary Alcohol Screening Test Advisory, and Hansen refused to provide a sample. Then the officer read Hansen an Implied Consent Advisory, which Hansen initially agreed to. However, once Hansen was transported to the hospital, he withdrew his consent. The officer detained Hansen pending a search warrant, which was eventually granted. A blood draw was conducted and the sample was submitted to the Montana State Crime Lab for Toxicology.  

Hansen was then transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. According to court documents, Hansen has five prior DUI convictions.  

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