Missoula Woman Asleep at the Wheel Gets Caught With Drugs Again

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 7, 2024, a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to a report of a female asleep at the wheel of a vehicle. Dispatch reported the complainant advised the female was there for approximately one hour and came into the hotel where the complainant worked. While in the hotel, the complainant observed the female’s hands shaking.  

The officer arrived on the scene and located the female asleep at the wheel of a Toyota. The officer checked on the female’s well-being and identified her as 43-year-old De’Ara Randles. Randles agreed to get out of her vehicle. The officer immediately observed a marijuana pipe and smelt burnt marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle.  

The officer decided to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and noted some indications that Randles consumed drugs. The officer also learned that Randles had a recent incident related to methamphetamine use.  

The officer spoke to the complainant who advised that Randles was speaking odd to staff earlier and had trouble completing sentences. The officer returned to Randles and mirandized her. Randles consented to the officer searching her purse.  

Inside the purse, the officer located a black case with a baggie inside that appeared consistent with methamphetamine. According to court documents, Randles stated “s**t” when the baggie was located and told the officer that her friend gave it to her, but she did not know what was inside the case. The officer tested the substance in the baggie with TruNarc, which resulted in a positive for methamphetamine.  

Randles was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. She is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. On January 8, 2024, she made her initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and her bond was set at $50,000. 

Randles currently has another open drug possession case in Montana’s Fourth Judicial District Court.

Read More: Employee Watches Woman Drop Meth Inside a Missoula Business

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