Missoula DUI Investigation Leads to Unexpected Drug Discovery

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On August 10, 2024, Missoula Police Department officers were conducting a DUI investigation. Due to the way the DUI vehicle was parked, three vehicles pulled up behind it on Front Street and were not able to continue westbound onto Broadway. They were told to turn around. The first vehicle in the line-up successfully completed a U-turn and left the area. The second vehicle, driven by 34-year-old Jerome McNeill, backed into a vehicle behind him causing an accident. 

An officer walked on foot to the crash and observed a silver Mercedes Benz had backed into a silver Pontiac G6. The officer was advised that McNeill had officer cautions for keeping firearms in his vehicle. During this time, the officer also observed the driver of the Pontiac hand something to McNeill, which McNeill quickly placed in his front right pocket. 

The officer provided both parties with crash information forms and asked them to complete them. McNeill stated, “This is literally my dude, we’re not trying to do an accident thing.” During this time, the officer saw a firearm on the driver’s side floorboard of McNeill’s vehicle. McNeill needed to re-enter his car to retrieve his registration and insurance information. The officer removed the firearm from the car after getting consent from McNeill. The officer asked about other firearms and McNeill touched his waistband. The officer observed a barely visible, black in color pistol, in McNeill’s waistband and removed it. 

Through his investigation, the officer also learned that McNeill’s driver’s license was suspended. While at the rear of McNeill’s car, another officer looked below the rear bumper and observed a small black box. The officer moved the box with his foot, which caused the lid of the box to fall off. When the lid fell off, the officer observed a small clear plastic bag of what appeared to be cocaine. 

The officer asked McNeill if the box was his, to which he stated, “That’s not my s**t, I don’t do coke.” When asked about what the officer had earlier observed exchanged between the two, McNeill stated he gave the other driver some money he owed him.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

During this time, an officer was interviewing the other driver who stated it was roughly $300 in cash. He stated once officers responded, he gave the cash back to McNeill. The officer then returned to McNeill and asked him what the other driver had handed him, to which McNeill stated he gave him money that he was owed. The officer then asked McNeill for consent to search his person and vehicle, to which McNeill agreed. 

While conducting a search of McNeill’s car, the officer located a clear tube under the front passenger seat, that contained several Adderall pills. The officer placed McNeill under arrest and transported him to the jail. McNeill is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and driving with a suspended license. 

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