Man Admits to Smoking Meth During DUI Arrest in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On February 17, 2023, a Montana State Highway Patrol Trooper responded to the Town Pump on North Reserve Street for a male who was “passed out” inside a truck for approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival, the trooper could see a male slumped forward in the truck’s driver’s seat. The male, later identified as John Frick, awoke only when the trooper opened the driver's side door.  

Frick, who was slow to respond to verbal commands, eventually exited the truck. Court documents indicate Frick also admitted to smoking methamphetamine within two hours of contact with law enforcement. Frick also consented to the search of two small cloth bags that were found in his pocket. 

One bag contained a glass pipe and the other contained a small container with a white crystal like substance resembling methamphetamine. Frick admitted to receiving the methamphetamine shortly before arriving at the gas station.

The trooper observed Frick’s eyes to be pinpoint, not indicative of a stimulant’s effect. The trooper, a certified Drug Recognition Expert, asked if Frick had consumed anything else, to which he stated he took his prescription for Clonazepam around the same time as his “two puffs” of methamphetamine.  

The trooper observed Frick to be sweating heavily despite the relatively cold conditions. The trooper then administered field sobriety tests. From the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, no clues were present, which is consistent with methamphetamine use. According to court documents, the trooper did observe erratic eye movement, which is an indication of stimulant use. Frick was also struggling to stand upright. The trooper next administered the walk and turn test. Frick exhibited 3 out of 8 indications of impairment. During the One leg stand test, Frick exhibited 3 out of 4 indications of impairment, despite almost falling.  

After a blood draw, the trooper transported Frick to the jail. There, the trooper NIK tested the suspected methamphetamine, which returned positive. 

Frick is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a DUI first offense. 

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