Missoula Man Faces Drug Charges After a Probation Search

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On February 10, 2026, at approximately 9:42 a.m., Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to assist in a probation search of Calen Hengel’s vehicle and residence. Officers arrived on scene and observed Hengel was detained in handcuffs in the Probation Officers’ vehicle, and there were multiple other POs on scene. An officer spoke with one of the POs who was on-call the previous evening and received a call from law enforcement regarding Hengel and an incident at the Comfort Inn. 

On February 9, 2026, an officer observed a female’s car at the Comfort Inn. The officer was aware that the female was previously arrested with a large amount of methamphetamine with Hengel in November of 2025. The officer also received a call that the female was involved with drug dealing in January of 2026.  

Then the officer verified that the female and Hengel were staying at the hotel. The officer was aware that Hengel had been arrested the previous week for drug paraphernalia. The manager at the Comfort Inn requested that they be removed because the manager was aware of them and their history.  

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The officer contacted the female at the hotel room. She said Hengel recently left in his car. The officer contacted the PO, who requested a probation search of the room. The officer located numerous baggies of methamphetamine, Clonazepam, Amphetamine, a digital scale, and miscellaneous paraphernalia. The female declined ownership of the backpacks and other items containing the drugs and paraphernalia. Hengel was also contacted by phone and denied ownership. No charges were made at that time.  

On February 10, 2026, the PO told the officer that they decided to follow up with Hengel at his residence. When Probation and Parole arrived at Hengel’s residence, they observed Hengel packing items into his vehicle. Hengel was detained, and Probation and Parole searched the trunk of the vehicle. Probation and Parole located a syringe in a tool bag in the trunk. The syringe was left in place, and Probation and Parole contacted 911 to have MPD officers respond.  

The officer arrived and assisted Probation and Parole with the search of Hengel’s vehicle. The officer observed the previously located syringe, a pair of gloves wrapped around a clear glass pipe with white/grey residue, a pack of cigarettes containing a folded up pink piece of paper that was determined to be an appointment reminder that Hengel had with his PO. Inside the pink piece of paper was methamphetamine.  

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Probation and Parole then searched Hengel’s residence. They located a backpack with a small metal container in Hengel’s room. The metal container contained a razor blade, a needle cap, and a small bag of methamphetamine. When Probation and Parole Officers were exiting the residence, they located a camouflaged backpack. Inside the backpack, nine pipes with residue were located. Probation and Parole also located a syringe containing an unknown dark substance. 

Hengel was arrested and transported to jail. He is currently being charged with 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.