At around 7:30 Thursday night, a Missoula police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of Toole Avenue and Bulwer. The vehicle was displaying an expired temporary tag and was not equipped with a license plate lamp. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“The officer made contact with and identified the driver as 41-year-old Chad Deschene,” Welsh said. “The officer learned that Mr. Deschene did not have a valid license and that his license was suspended. Mr. Deschene was placed under arrest. During the contact, the officers made observations inside the vehicle that led them to believe that Mr. Deschene was engaged in drug activity.”

Welsh says the officer requested permission to search the vehicle, but Deschene refused.

“They applied for, and were granted, a search warrant for the vehicle,” Welsh said. “The search revealed drug paraphernalia as well as amounts of methamphetamine that were packaged for individual sale, which led them to believe Mr. Deschene was engaged in drug sales.”

Deschene was transported to the Missoula County Jail. He is currently being held on several charges related to the original traffic stop, criminal possession with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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