Drug Bust by Missoula Police in Response to Hit-and-Run Crash

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 28, 2024, at approximately 5:14 PM, a Missoula Police Department Officer was driving when she observed two vehicles in the alleyway next to a residence in the 1700 block of South 4th Street West. Based on many prior interactions with this home, the officer knew that vehicles coming and going were typically involved in the use or sale of dangerous drugs. 

The officer ran the two license plates through dispatch and the black Jeep had an alert in its jacket that showed it was involved in a hit-and-run crash. An Accident Investigator was requesting that the vehicle be stopped and that the driver be identified.  

Another officer arrived to assist with the investigation. Both officers drove down the alley and approached the vehicles. Immediately, both occupants of the Jeep exited and began walking towards the house. Officers ordered both to stop and they eventually did. The driver was identified as 32-year-old Justin Haggerty. 

An officer investigated the Jeep and began to photograph the damages. While doing that, the officer observed a glass pipe with burnt residue sitting in the center console in plain view. Then the officer asked Haggerty for consent to search the vehicle. Haggerty gave consent, and during the search, the officer almost immediately located a small clear baggie with white residue and a small white rock inside.  

Officers continued their search of the vehicle and located a metal straw with burnt residue, tinfoil with burnt residue, a small clear baggie with a crystal-like clear substance inside, and the pipe that had previously been seen on the center console. Additionally, officers located two circular metal containers inside Haggerty’s backpack. One of the containers would not open and the other had a little bit of white residue inside. According to court documents, Haggerty admitted the crystal-like substances found in his vehicle were methamphetamine. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Haggerty was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility without further incident, and his backpack was brought with him at his request. During a routine inventory search of his backpack at the jail, jail staff were able to open the container that the officer couldn’t. It contained .89g of methamphetamine in a small plastic baggie. 

Haggerty 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.