Man Arrested for Felony DUI in Missoula Says ‘I’m Drunk’

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On November 24, 2023, Missoula Police Department officers responded to the area of Cooley Street for a report of suspicious activity. Dispatch advised that two people were sitting in a Subaru with the back window bashed out, just outside of the caller’s neighbor’s house. Dispatch relayed that one of the occupants tried getting inside the neighbor’s house. 

The first officer arrived and pulled behind the Subaru which was running. The officer knocked on the driver’s side window. The individual, later identified as 58-year-old Arthur Martinez, appeared to be passed out and did not move. When he knocked again, Martinez woke up and began flailing around the vehicle. As Martinez was moving his arms, the officer observed numerous cans of alcoholic beverages and a container of vodka in the vehicle. 

Martinez Has a Hard Time Following Instructions

The officer asked him to roll down the window. Instead, Martinez moved the driver’s side mirror. The officer reiterated to roll down the window. Martinez instead opened the driver-side door. The officer immediately observed a hypodermic syringe cap, a used syringe, a glass pipe, and a small plastic baggie in the driver’s door compartment. The officer vocalized that he observed paraphernalia in the vehicle and asked Martinez to exit. 

According to court documents, the officer observed that Martinez’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. When asked for his identification, Martinez removed several lighters and a pipe, but could not find his identification. Martinez’s speech was slurred and the officer could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him. The officer requested Pro Towing to come and take the vehicle to the Missoula Police Department evidence bay. 

When asked, Martinez admitted that he consumed a tall Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Another officer conducted a DUI investigation. Martinez could not complete the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and refused to provide a breath sample. Court documents indicate Martinez said that he knew he would blow over the legal limit. Martinez initially agreed to have his blood drawn, then changed his mind once at St. Patrick's Hospital. Martinez was placed under arrest for DUI. 

Martinez Admits to Being "Drunk"

The officer transported Martinez to St. Patrick's Hospital, where a blood sample was taken. When asked how he was doing, Martinez replied, “I’m drunk.” The officer then transported Martinez to the Missoula County Detention Facility. 

On November 25, 2023, the officer applied for and was granted a search warrant on Martinez’s vehicle. The officer removed two uncapped hypodermic syringes, a glass methamphetamine pipe, and a baggie of methamphetamine from the driver’s door compartment. On the passenger side, the officer located numerous capped and uncapped hypodermic syringes. The officer also located a small baggie of meth in the compartment under the armrest. 

Martinez is currently being charged with felony DUI, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Martinez has three prior DUI convictions and is a non-compliant sexual offender. 

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