Missoula Shoplifter Leaves Drugs in the Back of a Police Car

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On February 6, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM, a Missoula Police Department Officer was dispatched to a report of a shoplifter in custody at WinCo. When the officer arrived, she met with the Loss Prevention employee Jace and the male shoplifter, 47-year-old Damon Titchbourne.  

The officer introduced herself to Titchbourne and saw that his personal belongings were out on the table including various drug paraphernalia, a used hypodermic needle, and a glass pipe with burnt residue upon it.  

The employee explained that he watched Titchbourne conceal multiple items into his coat. He added that Titchbourne walked to the front, bought a slice of pizza, and then attempted to exit the store without paying for the items he had concealed on his person. After some back and forth, Titchbourne eventually admitted that he did not intend on paying for the items because he didn’t have enough money. 

Then Titchbourne provided consent for a preliminary pat down. During the search, the officer pulled out a hard black case out of Titchbourne’s front chest pocket. When the officer pulled it out, Titchbourne immediately let out a large sigh. When the officer opened the case, she observed a small plastic baggie of methamphetamine. The officer put down the case and placed Titchbourne under arrest.  

Then Titchbourne was transported to the jail where he was booked and remanded. As the officer was about to leave the jail, she inspected the backseat of her patrol vehicle and observed a small plastic baggie of methamphetamine sitting next to the passenger side rear door. The officer noted that this was the door Titchbourne exited when exiting the vehicle.  

The baggie also had writing on it from a purple marker, which the officer recognized from the other baggie of methamphetamine that was removed from Titchbourne’s pocket. The officer went back into the jail to ask Titchbourne about the baggie and he swore it was not his.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Then the officer had the jail staff pull up the video from the vehicle bay and it can clearly be seen that the baggie is not on the ground before Titchbourne gets out of the car and once, he stands up, the baggie falls onto the ground. The officer went back inside to tell Titchbourne this, but he continued to say he did not drop the bag on the ground. 

Titchbourne is currently being charged with felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and theft third offense. 

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