Missoula Police Find Potential Drug Dealer Asleep in a Car

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) On November 2, 2024, a Missoula Police Department Officer was dispatched to a parking lot in the 2500 block of Reserve Street for a report of an individual who was passed out in a vehicle. The 911 caller reported that the vehicle had been parked in a handicapped spot for approximately two hours. The officer arrived and found a male, later identified as 52-year-old Eric O’Donnell. The officer observed O'Donnell appeared to be asleep behind the wheel and he also observed a case of beer in the backseat of the vehicle. The officer also observed an open beer in the center console cup holder.  

The officer knocked on the driver’s side door and did not receive a response. After knocking again, O'Donnell woke up and looked at the officer with a surprised facial expression. The officer asked if O'Donnell needed medical or any other services and O'Donnell said he did not.  

Based on O'Donnell’s behavior and open alcoholic beverage, O'Donnell was asked to step out of the vehicle. O'Donnell completed the standardized field sobriety tests and no probable cause to believe O'Donnell was driving under the influence was found.  

The officer was advised via dispatch, that O'Donnell had a no bond warrant. O'Donnell was placed under arrest for his warrant and was taken to the jail. Once at the jail, the officer was provided a glass pipe that O'Donnell had hidden on his person.  

The officer read O'Donnell his Miranda warnings and O'Donnell admitted the pipe was used for smoking fentanyl. O'Donnell stated he did not know the pipe was on him, he had not inhaled in about a week and asked the officer to destroy the pipe.  

During the original call for service, the officer contacted Enterprise Rent a Car and said the vehicle was able to be picked up. A few hours later, a manager called 911, and the officer was advised via dispatch that there were possible drugs and paraphernalia in the vehicle. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The officer was shown a beanie in the glove compartment, where he immediately observed methamphetamine. The officer transported the beanie and a backpack to the police department. Within the beanie, the officer also found a scale, pill bottle, and multiple other clear unused baggies. The baggie of meth weighed approximately 42 grams.  

Additionally, there was a pill bottle and multiple other baggies. One baggie was filled with meth and weighed approximately 2 grams. The other clear baggie had 29.5 blue fentanyl pills. The officer also found 10 white pills with the markings “AN 355.”  

According to a Missoula Drug Task Force Officer, the quantity of meth exceeds quantities typically possessed for personal use by a drug user, and the presence of multiple types of drugs indicates they were intended for distribution in the Missoula area. The quantity of meth in the package was the equivalent of approximately 84-168 doses. 

O’Donnell is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $75,000. 

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