Woman Tries to Steal in Missoula, Gets Caught With Drugs

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 7:52 p.m. on August 2, 2024, a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to a reported shoplifting at the Walmart on Mullan Road. The 911 complainant said a female stole a purse and she was unsure if there were more stolen items inside the purse. 

An officer responded to the area and spoke with the suspect female. The female identified herself as 32-year-old Cassandra Vandeveer. Cassandra advised that she purchased the purse from another Walmart the previous day. The officer asked Cassandra where the purse was and she said it was on the floorboard on the passenger side of the vehicle. The officer asked Cassandra if they could search the purse. Cassandra gave officers consent to search the purse. 

During the search, an officer observed a clear plastic ziploc bag that appeared to contain drug paraphernalia. He also located a wallet containing an identification card that had Cassandra's name and picture on it. He also located a clear glass pipe with burnt residue in it, as well as a small blue “tooter straw”.  

In a side pocket of the purse, the officer observed a square folded piece of tin foil. The officer knows from training and experience that persons will use tin foil to heat dangerous drugs and ingest them using a straw. The officer unfolded the tin foil and located a blue fentanyl pill with a "M" symbol on it.  

The plastic bag that was underneath the purse contained several other large pieces of tin foil with burnt residue, needles, a tooter straw, and a large rubber tourniquet. The officer collected the merchandise that was found and entered it in as recovered stolen property belonging to Walmart. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

While at the police station, the officer used the TRU NARC instrument to determine what kind of substance was in the plastic zip lock bag. The TRU NARC instrument identified the substance as Mannitol.  

According to court documents, Cassandra Vanderveer is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft.  

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