Missoula Man on Probation Charged With Intent to Sell Meth

On July 9, 2022, a Missoula Police Department Officer conducted a traffic stop of a green Ford Explorer. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“A Missoula Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation,” Arnold said. “During the contact with the driver, the officer noticed the driver, Dustin Bissell, had a revoked driver’s license and was on probation. The officer observed indicators of impairment on Bissell as well. The officer contacted probation and parole and advised them of the stop, the contact, and the observations during the contact.”

When asked about illicit substance use, Bissell admitted to the recent use of methamphetamine and that he “pissed hot” recently during a probation appointment. A probation officer requested that the MPD officer conduct a search of the vehicle.

“Probation and parole became involved and a probation search led to locating substances that showed presumptive positive for methamphetamine,” Arnold said. “The search also yielded drug paraphernalia and indicators of dangerous drug distribution. Bissell was arrested and taken to the Missoula County Detention Center. This case is still under investigation with the Missoula Police Department Detective Division.”

The officer located a small case on the driver-side floorboard just below the seat. Upon opening the case, the officer observed five baggies of meth, multiple other unused Ziploc baggies, cotton tip swabs, empty cylindrical storage bottles, and orange syringe caps. Located in the center console of the vehicle was an electronic scale.

In total, over 20 grams of methamphetamine were found in the case. The officer mirandized Bissell and asked him about the methamphetamine. Bissell admitted the methamphetamine was for personal use.

Bissell is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute.

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