Woman Accidently Leaves Drugs at a Missoula Casino

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On December 12, 2025, at approximately 12:10 p.m., a Missoula Police Department officer responded to a casino on Russell Street after learning that an employee found drugs and paraphernalia inside. Upon arrival, the officer met with the employee, who produced a plastic container with two baggies of suspected methamphetamine and various items of paraphernalia inside.  

The employee told the officer that a female suspect left the drugs/paraphernalia in the casino. The suspect was recorded on surveillance leaving the contraband. While the employee was attempting to pull up the surveillance video to show the officer, the employee noticed that the female suspect had returned to the casino. The employee was 100% sure of the identification.  

The officer approached the female suspect, who was later identified as Desiree Griffith. Griffith was seated at a slot machine. The officer asked Griffith to come outside and advised her of her rights. Once outside, the officer showed Griffith the container with the drugs/paraphernalia inside. Griffith said it was not hers. When the officer asked Griffith if it would surprise her to learn she is on surveillance video leaving the container behind, Griffith responded that it would not surprise her. Griffith advised that she could not remember what she had done earlier.  

Get our free mobile app

At this point, the officer told Griffith that she needed to stop lying. Griffith then admitted the container was hers and that she left it in the casino earlier. The officer placed Griffith under arrest. Another officer arrived on scene and took custody of Griffith and the drugs/paraphernalia.  

The officer returned to the casino and reviewed the surveillance video. In the video, Griffith can be seen entering the casino and setting down the container, playing "shake a day," and then leaving without the container.  

Meanwhile, the other officer transported Griffith to jail. He then tested the drugs using the TruNarc scanner. He received presumptive confirmation of methamphetamine. He also logged a broken glass pipe with residue, an unbroken pipe with residue, and rolling papers into evidence. 

Griffith 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.