Man in a Stolen Car Admits to Smoking Meth Earlier in the Day

Just before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, a Missoula Police Officer was parked in a marked patrol car in the 600 block of West Broadway when he heard a vehicle speed by him at so high a rate of speed that the noise startled him. The officer initiated a pursuit and eventually caught up to the vehicle at a stop light.

The officer recognized the vehicle as a possible stolen vehicle out of Ravalli County. He ran the license plate through dispatch and confirmed it was in fact stolen.

When the stop light turned green, the vehicle pulled away at a high rate of speed. Eventually, the vehicle turned hard to the right and abruptly parked on the side of Jackson Street. The officer removed a male driver and placed him under arrest, then removed a female passenger. While doing so, he observed a glass marijuana pipe and a torch in the car.

The male driver identified himself as 21-year-old Skylar Holloway. Holloway admitted that he had smoked multiple “bowls” of marijuana and reported that he smokes every day. Holloway also admitted that he is a “meth addict” and had smoked “a bowl of meth” earlier in the day.

The female passenger told an officer that there was a baggie of meth that Holloway had purchased earlier in one of her bags. An officer located a marijuana pipe and the small baggie of meth.

According to Deputy County Attorney Carrie Garber, Holloway has failed to appear for court many times in the past.

“We are requesting that the court impose bond of $5,000 and place him on pretrial supervision,” Garber said. “We are asking that he be tested for the presence of drugs and alcohol, and that he have no contact with the alleged victim. We are asking that he not operate any motor vehicle until he is licensed and insured and that he not return to the parking lot at the Florence grocery store for any reason.”

Judge Alex Beal said he has seen Holloway a number of different times and there have been several significant issues over the years. Beal said he has real concerns in terms of Holloway’s risk to the community.

“I do think monetary bond is required here,” Beal said. “I think the state aimed a little too low. I am going to set bond in the amount of $25,000. If you are able to post that, you would only be released to pretrial. They would need to come get you out. Does this prohibit you from working on other things like mental health and chemical dependency? It doesn’t. If there is some sort of other plan out there, I am always happy to hear about it.”

Holloway was charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony theft, driving under the influence, speeding, and driving without a valid drivers license.