Suspicious Vehicle Leads to Drug Discovery in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 10, 2025, Missoula Police Department officers responded to a report of suspicious activity in the area of Spurgin Road and Eaton Street. The caller informed Dispatch that an El Camino had been parked near her residence for some time and that multiple people were coming and going from the vehicle throughout the day.  

The caller identified a male as an involved party. The male is known to use drugs by law enforcement. He is also on probation. Upon arrival, the officers located the male in the driver’s seat of the El Camino and 23-year-old Dominique Montoya in the passenger’s seat. 

Montoya appeared to be holding a “tooter straw” in her hand. She also had a small balloon on her lap. An officer noted in his report that these items are commonly used to ingest drugs. The male driver informed the officers that he was working on repairing the vehicle’s steering wheel.  

Montoya stated she came to the area approximately twenty minutes prior to do laundry at the male’s mother’s residence. She denied ownership of the tooter straw and balloon. 

Dispatch confirmed that both the male and Montoya are on probation. An officer contacted the on-call probation officer, who authorized a search of both individuals and the vehicle. In one of Montoya’s bags, an officer located a needle containing a clear liquid, which he recognized as likely methamphetamine.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

According to court documents, Montoya said that she “forgot I even had that” and admitted, “That’s dope.” The officers also located tinfoil, a tourniquet, needles, and alcohol prep pads in one of Montoya’s bags. Montoya denied the paraphernalia belonged to her. 

The officers arrested Montoya and transported her to jail. The liquid inside the syringe tested presumptively positive for amphetamine. Montoya is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $10,000. 

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