Woman Throws Baggie of Meth in a Missoula Jail Toilet

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 3, 2025, a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to Walmart on Mullan Road for a report of a person to be removed. An officer arrived and spoke to an employee. The employee reported that the female suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Amanda Otten, had been previously trespassed from all Walmart locations. 

The officer contacted Otten and learned that she had multiple outstanding warrants. Otten was arrested on her warrants. During a search incident to arrest, the officer located a glass pipe with white residue he recognized as consistent with methamphetamine use. The officer further located multiple barcodes that appeared to be price tags on Otten. 

Then, officers located the vehicle Otten had driven to Walmart. K-9 Zip alerted on the vehicle indicating that there were drugs inside. Officers also observed several hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise inside the car including backpacks, tools, clothing, and other items. 

The officer spoke to the employee again to determine if Otten attempted to take any items without purchasing them. The employee advised she had never witnessed a theft, but she was aware Otten is known for “tag swapping.”  

Walmart reports show Otten has been caught placing her own homemade bar codes on merchandise to scan at the register for a lower price. Otten had multiple theft incidents with Walmart leading to her trespass. 

Otten was then taken to the Missoula County Detention Center. While at the jail, staff conducted the booking process. A detention officer escorted Otten to a room to have her change from street clothes to facility clothing. A detention sergeant was called to assist. The detention sergeant walked over to the officer showing a clear baggie with a clear crystalline substance inside that was concealed on Otten’s person. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The detention officer said Otten took off her outer clothing leaving her underwear on. When advised she needed to remove her underwear, Otten made several odd motions with her hands. According to court documents, the detention officer observed Otten place something in her hand. When the detention officer attempted to retrieve the item, Otten threw it into the toilet.  

The detention officer requested other jail staff to assist and eventually retrieved a small baggie with a crystal-like substance. The substance in the baggie Otten attempted to conceal and then destroy was tested by TruNarc, which resulted in a presumptive positive for methamphetamine. 

Otten is currently being charged with felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $100,000. 

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