Man Gets Arrested for Intent to Sell Drugs in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On June 22, 2023, Missoula Police Department Officers observed 26-year-old Chance Cragwell enter his vehicle, a maroon Jeep Wrangler, with a female passenger. The Jeep did not have license plates. 

Cragwell drove to Cabela’s and was contacted by officers. Law enforcement was familiar with Cragwell from prior drug investigations, including distributing from his Jeep, and had earlier in the day applied for and were granted a search warrant for Cragwell’s Jeep and person by District Court Judge Marks. 

During the search of Cragwell’s person, a small quantity of suspected dangerous drugs were located in his pant pocket. Cragwell was placed under arrest and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. An officer was informed by the jail staff that they had located a large quantity of suspected cocaine in Cragwell’s groin region.  

The suspected drugs that were removed from Cragwell’s person were weighed and tested using the TruNarc, which returned a presumptive positive for cocaine with an approximate total package weight of 38.39 grams.  

In addition to the drugs found on Cragwell’s person, law enforcement seized $456 in cash, a room key at the Fairbridge Inn, a red Apple iPhone, a set of vehicle keys, and a Walmart cash card with an end balance of $1,102.92-dated 6/22/23. Officers also requested Cragwell’s Jeep be transported to the Missoula secure evidence facility, where they conducted a search of the Jeep. 

During this search, officers found two mobile phones and two prescription bottles of Promethazine and Codeine. Officers also found a Walmart receipt for $582.92 for a pre-paid debit card. Officers further found a clear bag of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms behind the passenger seat. In the rear compartment of the Jeep, officers located two small Ziploc-style bags, one of which contained a white powdery substance that returned a presumptive positive test for cocaine.  

Based on the items found on Cragwell’s person and within his Jeep, as well as Cragwell being in possession of a room key card for the Fairbridge Inn, an officer went to the Fairbridge Inn and was informed that Cragwell had rented a room. According to court documents, an officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for the room by District Court Judge Halligan. 

During the search, officers located two digital scales with white residue, cash, a spoon with white residue, a white mixing bowl, a Ziploc-style bag containing suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, a Ziploc bag containing suspected cocaine, and a bottle of Inositol Powder. Law enforcement did a further overview of the items and found that the suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms had a total package weight of 17.82 grams and the suspected cocaine had a total package weight of 62.07 grams. The total amount of cash seized from the hotel room was counted and totaled $16,646. 

Cragwell is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and three counts of felony unlawful use/possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture.  

On June 26, 2023, Cragwell made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $25,000. 

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