Missoula Woman on Probation Gets Caught With Meth, Ecstasy, and Oxycodone
At around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, a Missoula Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle with an inactive registration. The stop occurred near Orange and South 5th Street. The vehicle had a male driver and female passenger.
The female, who was subsequently identified as 39-year-old Jessica Hall, appeared very nervous. Hall was continuously smoking on her vape pen, as well as looking around. She was also moving her hands and arms almost non-stop as the officer was speaking to the male driver. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.
“After stopping the vehicle, the officer made contact with the driver who stated the vehicle was not his,” Arnold said. “The passenger, Jessica Hall, piped up and told the officer the vehicle belonged to a member in her family. The officer observed behavior consistent with being under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant, open containers in the vehicle, and behavior that indicated other crimes were possibly occurring. Based on the indicators observed during the stop, Hall being on probation, and concerns of drug activity occurring, a K-9 unit and probation and parole were contacted.”
A probation officer requested that police officers conduct a search of Hall’s purse.
“Missoula Police officers assisted with the requested probation search,” Arnold said. “The search resulted in locating drugs, drug paraphernalia, and indicators of distributing drugs. The preliminary tests of the substances located indicate the substance to be MDMA, ecstasy, and methamphetamine.”
A search of Hall’s purse located methamphetamine in two bags in a quantity greater than a typical user amount, a digital scale, metal spoons, a weight, dozens of small plastic baggies of the type commonly used for distribution of dangerous drugs, and ecstasy.
Hall was transported to the Missoula County Jail. Detention staff conducted a more thorough search of Hall’s purse, and located a hidden zipper area. The hidden portion of the purse contained another baggie of meth, a baggie of ten oxycodone pills, and $1,230 in cash. The total weight of the methamphetamine came to 17 grams.
Hall is currently being charged with criminal possession with intent to distribute, two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and unlawful use or possession of property subject to criminal forfeiture.