Missoula Police Find Drugs Near Child, Couple Gets Arrested

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On June 11, 2024, at approximately 3:35 PM, a Missoula Police Department Officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Commerce St. for a report of camping in the city. The male who was known to be staying in the camper, 44-year-old Darwin Bailey, had a $10,000 warrant from Cascade County.  

When the officer arrived on scene, she saw Bailey outside of the camper. The officer exited her vehicle and once Bailey saw her, he walked around the corner of the camper briefly, reached into his pockets, and then came back towards the officer. The officer informed Bailey that he was under arrest for his warrant and handcuffed him.  

Then the officer received information that Bailey’s girlfriend, 33-year-old Jessica Mitchell, was inside the trailer with her four-year-old daughter, Jane Doe. The officer went up to the trailer, knocked on the door, and asked Mitchell to grab Doe and step outside.  

Mitchell is Uncooperative With Officers 

At first, Mitchell declined. The officer informed her that since Bailey was on probation, the Probation officer on scene was requesting a search of the camper. Mitchell denied that Bailey had been staying in the camper and said only she did. 

The officer knew from a previous interaction just a few days prior that Bailey was staying in the camper because she had seen him inside during that interaction. Mitchell finally called for Doe to come with her and the two exited the camper.  

Then the officer assisted Probation in searching the common areas of the camper. During the search, they located several items of drug paraphernalia, suspected Fentanyl, and suspected methamphetamine residue. They also located a bong inside a microwave. 

According to the officer’s report, most of the drug paraphernalia located was well within reach of Doe and none of the items would have taken any special measures to reach other than the ones inside the microwave.  

The officer wrote that it was fair to assume that some of Doe’s food is cooked in the microwave. Once the suspected drug-related items were located, the officers requested a CPS come to the scene for Doe. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Officers Locate Drugs 

Then the officer went and searched the location outside the camper where Bailey walked to after seeing the officer. The officer found a small clear baggie containing 33 suspected Fentanyl pills. The officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for the camper. During a search of the camper, officers located more drug paraphernalia and 129 suspected Fentanyl pills.

According to court documents, the undersigned deputy county attorney asserts probable cause to believe that the 129 fentanyl pills found were possessed by Mitchell with intent to distribute.

Bailey is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Mitchell is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute and felony endangering the welfare of a child. 

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