Missoula Drunk Driver Makes Threats During His 6th DUI Arrest

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On September 8th, 2024, at approximately 12:03 AM, a Missoula Police Department Officer observed a black passenger car traveling through the intersection of S Higgins and S 5th St W. The officer observed the vehicle drive through the intersection against a red traffic light and failed to stop for the solid red light. The officer followed the vehicle and activated his emergency lights. The vehicle slowly rolled forward until it finally stopped in front of Flippers Casino.

The officer walked up to the vehicle on the passenger side and illuminated the cab with his flashlight. He immediately noticed the male driver was holding a Modelo beer bottle. The officer asked the male, later identified as 36-year-old Humberto Lara, to get out of the vehicle. According to court documents, Lara stated he was going to get out after he drank his beer.

Lara finished his beer and stepped out of the vehicle. The officer noticed a tattoo on Lara’s back that had a large ‘S’ on it and saw three dots on the right side of his neck that the officer knows are associated with gang lifestyles. While standing and speaking with Lara, the officer noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, droopy eyelids, and a strong slur in Lara’s speech. Lara staggered as he walked to the front of the vehicle and the officer had to correct his direction of travel.

The officer attempted to do Standard Field Sobriety Tests and Lara told him to “get the f**k out of my face”. The officer placed Lara under arrest. Then Lara was read the implied consent advisory and refused to provide a sample. The officer obtained a search warrant for Lara’s blood.

While the officer was obtaining the warrant, Lara was screaming in the back of the patrol vehicle and was very hostile. Lara allegedly said something like, “Nothing happens in Montana, you guys don't have crime. If you were in California, you would have been killed.” Lara then went on to tell the officer that he would be chopped up in pieces when he tells his friends down in California that are part of the Mexican Mafia.

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports

Lara was transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital, where his blood was drawn at 1:34 AM. While getting his blood drawn, Lara said something like, “You’re lucky I didn't have a gun in my car because it would have been over”.

Lara is currently being charged with felony DUI, driving with a suspended license, failure to obey red traffic signals, failure to carry proof of liability insurance, failure to carry registration, and unlawful possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle on the highway. Lara has five prior DUI convictions. His bond was set at $50,000.

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