Man Drops a Bag of Meth in Front of a Missoula Deputy

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 4, 2025, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a verbal disturbance involving a female who needed assistance at the intersection of Ridgway and Highway 93. The original 911 caller reported that a man was working on a red van and was slamming things and yelling, while a female appeared scared and was shaking.  

Upon arrival, deputies observed a male identified as 43-year-old Alan Santamaria who was standing near the red van and a female who was sitting in the passenger seat of a black pickup. The deputy approached Santamaria and asked for his identification. Santamaria stated his wallet was in the pickup, and he approached the passenger side door.  

The deputy observed Santamaria start talking to the female, and it appeared he was quickly trying to retrieve something from his pocket to hand to her. The deputy then observed Santamaria take out his wallet, despite having previously claimed it was in the truck. As Santamaria removed his wallet, a small bag containing a white crystalline substance fell out of his wallet and onto the ground.

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Suspect Refuses to Hand the Bag Over 

The deputy asked Santamaria what the bag was, and Santamaria immediately attempted to pick it up and conceal it. The deputy instructed Santamaria to hand the bag over, but Santamaria did not comply and accidentally dropped it again. Santamaria reached for it once more.  

Based on his training and experience, the deputy recognized the bag’s contents as a white crystalline substance that appeared consistent with methamphetamine. The deputy stopped Santamaria from picking up the bag and placed him in handcuffs. Santamaria was remanded to the detention center, and the deputy tested the suspected drugs using the ACE ID, which yielded a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Santamaria is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. 

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