Probationer Caught With Meth in a Missoula Parking Lot

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 10, 2024, at roughly 4:40 AM, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a report of a running vehicle in the parking lot of Ruby’s café. An employee said they noticed the vehicle running and did not see it move for an hour. Officers arrived on scene and located the vehicle, which did not have a license plate.  

Officers observed a single, adult male occupant slumped over the steering wheel in a “folded” position. Officers opened the door and the male awoke. Officers immediately noticed a small baggie on the floorboard next to the driver’s seat and bundled tin foil tucked behind the driver’s seat. An officer noted the small baggie contained white residue. An officer went to the passenger side of the vehicle, looked down, and noticed another small plastic bag on the ground that contained three methamphetamine crystals. 

An officer asked the male if he needed medical attention, which the male declined. Then an officer asked the male, later identified as 38-year-old Trevor Bertelsen, to exit the vehicle. An officer began to detain Bertelsen who tensed up and attempted to toss the small baggie of methamphetamine onto the hood of his vehicle.  

Bertelsen was eventually detained without further incident. He was then escorted to the front of the officer’s patrol vehicle and pat-searched for weapons. During this time, the officer noticed Bertelsen attempting to place his foot over the baggie he threw. The officer moved Bertelsen’s leg and retrieved the bag. Bertelsen was subsequently arrested.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

According to court documents, Bertelsen is currently facing two separate felony DUI matters in Montana’s Fourth Judicial District Court. Bertelsen’s conditions of release include remaining law abiding and testing for controlled substances. Given Bertelsen has failed to abide by his conditions of release, continues to use and/or possess substances, and was found passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle while facing DUI charges in two other matters, the State asked the Court to issue a warrant for Bertelsen’s arrest in the amount of $25,000. Now Bertelsen is also being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. 

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