Man Flees Crash, Gets Arrested for Felony DUI in East Missoula
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 18, 2023, at approximately 5:48 p.m., a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was contacted by a male at a gas station in East Missoula. This male told the deputy that a red Jeep at the gas station had crashed into him in the city and fled.
The deputy drove over to the Jeep and ran the license plate. Court documents indicate the vehicle returned to 46-year-old Arron Mastin. The deputy went inside a nearby Bar and Casino and asked some individuals if they saw Mastin.
One male announced that the red Jeep had been driving erratically. A bartender told the deputy that he had not served Mastin any drinks since arriving and a patron in front of her told the deputy that Mastin was in the bathroom.
The deputy entered the bathroom and found Mastin falling over onto a toilet. The deputy said Mastin grabbed both sides of the stall and got back up. The deputy then escorted Mastin outside. Mastin could not walk straight and needed physical assistance to walk.
Mastin told the deputy that he had been driving his red Jeep. Later, he told the deputy that he was coming from a party and he had been drinking alcohol. According to court documents, Mastin told the deputy that he should not have been driving multiple times. The deputy then attempted to perform standardized field sobriety tests.
While administering the tests, the deputy observed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Mastin and he could see Mastin’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Mastin was unable to complete any of the tests successfully. Mastin then told the deputy that “I’m too drunk.” Mastin also kept saying “Just take me to jail.”
Once at the jail, Mastin refused implied consent and did not blow for the intoxilyzer. The deputy then obtained a search warrant for a blood draw that was completed at St. Patrick’s hospital. Mastin was read his Miranda rights and refused to give a statement.
Mastin is currently being charged with felony DUI, which is a fourth or subsequent offense.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.