Drunk Driver in Missoula Rear-Ends Car, Gets Caught With Cocaine

At around 6:00 p.m. on Friday, a Missoula Police Department officer responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of South Avenue and Reserve Street. The officer determined that 25-year-old Mason Ziegler was driving a gold-colored Kia and had rear-ended a Chevy. Ziegler admitted that he was unable to stop in time, which caused him to collide with the rear of the Chevy.

According to court documents, the officer smelled the odor of alcohol coming from Ziegler. Ziegler explained that he had just picked his friend up from a bar. Ziegler had a difficult time producing the required documents and fumbled for them. He also appeared to be moving slowly and deliberately. Detective Lieutenant Eddie McLean explains.

“One of the drivers was suspected to be impaired so the officer conducted the standardized field sobriety test,” McLean said. “That driver, who was identified as Mason Ziegler, was arrested for DUI. Following his arrest, the officer located three small baggies on his person. Those were subsequently tested and yielded a presumptive positive test for cocaine. He was remanded in the Missoula County Detention Facility.”

While searching Ziegler incident to arrest, the officer located three small pink baggies in Ziegler’s coat pocket. They contained a white powdery substance, which appeared consistent with cocaine. Ziegler later admitted to purchasing cocaine from someone downtown for $300. The officer used the TruNarc scanner to test all three baggies. Each returned presumptively positive for cocaine.

Ziegler is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, careless driving, and driving under the influence first offense, which is a misdemeanor.

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