Montana Driver Blows .31 During His Felony DUI Arrest

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 2:56 PM on May 5, 2025, a male contacted 911 to report a possible intoxicated driver near the intersection of S. Canyon Dr and N. Canyon Dr in Seeley Lake, Montana. He observed a red Chevrolet Equinox stopped in the middle of the intersection, with a male slumped over in the driver’s seat. He parked his vehicle behind the Equinox, exited, and went to check on the driver.  

He opened the driver’s side door and asked if the male was okay. The male, later identified as 58-year-old William Browne, responded that he was fine, closed the door, put the vehicle in reverse, and nearly backed into the caller’s vehicle.  

The caller got back into his vehicle and drove around the Equinox. He noticed that Browne was honking the horn and revving his engine, but the Equinox did not move. This suggested to him that Browne had mistakenly put the car in neutral instead of drive. Suspecting Browne was intoxicated, he decided to report the incident to law enforcement.

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A Deputy and Medical Responded

A Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputy and medical personnel responded to the area. Upon arriving at the intersection of Frontier Drive and Airport Road, the deputy observed fire personnel already on scene with the Equinox. The deputy observed that the Equinox was improperly parked off the roadway, facing northbound traffic in the oncoming lane.  

The deputy made contact with Browne, who was seated in the driver’s seat with the key in the accessory position and the gear shift still in the “drive” position. Fire personnel began assessing Browne for medical issues, and Browne stated he was fine and did not require medical attention. According to court documents, Browne voluntarily admitted to fire personnel that he was intoxicated.  

When speaking with the deputy, Browne stated, “I’m drunk” and “I drank too many.” The deputy further observed that Browne had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and person. The deputy attempted to execute the SFSTs, but Browne was unable to follow the directions. At the conclusion of the attempted SFSTs, Browne stated, “I’m too intoxicated” and declined to continue. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Four Times the Legal Limit

Browne was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. At the jail, the deputy read Browne the Montana Implied Consent Advisory, which he agreed to. Browne provided two breath samples, both resulting in a .31 BrAC, which is nearly four times the legal limit. 

Browne was previously convicted of a 4th DUI on November 21, 2019, in Missoula County District Court. He is currently being charged with felony DUI, and his bond was set at $10,000. 

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