Missoula Police Find Drugs in a Stolen Vehicle Parked at a Casino

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 12, 2025, a Missoula Police Department Officer responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from Cooper Street. The owner, John Doe, advised that his Toyota Matrix was taken from his residence. Doe said he last saw the vehicle around 2:00 pm, that it was possibly unlocked, and there was a spare key inside. Doe did not give anyone permission to use the vehicle.  

In the early morning hours of March 13, 2025, an officer located the stolen vehicle at the North Reserve Street Lucky Lil’s Casino. The officer observed two occupants, one in the front passenger seat and another in the back driver’s seat. Officers conducted a stop and identified the two individuals. Then the officer looked through the windows of the vehicle and saw in plain view a syringe with a clear liquid inside on the seat where one was sitting. 

While the two occupants were being detained, officers went inside the casino and contacted an employee to identify a possible driver. The employee advised a male came from the stolen vehicle and was currently in the bathroom. An officer went into the bathroom and located a male washing his hands who was later identified as 27-year-old Teran Smith.  

Smith advised he received the car from a friend; however, when asked additional questions about the identity of the friend, Smith was unable to provide a name. Smith then became uncooperative and was subsequently arrested. During a search incident to arrest, law enforcement located the keys to the stolen vehicle on Smith’s person.  

Then the officer contacted Doe who provided consent to search the vehicle. During the search, officers located a black bag on the driver’s floorboard where Smith would have been sitting. Law enforcement located a clear glass pipe with residue inside that the officer recognized as a methamphetamine pipe based on his training and experience.  

There was a hypodermic syringe on the driver’s side as well. Law enforcement also located a syringe cap and a folded up baggie containing methamphetamine inside the driver’s door handle. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Law enforcement also located the syringe with liquid inside along with a small vial containing an unknown liquid in the back seating area, along with a “tooter” straw. Law enforcement further located an unclaimed bag in the trunk that contained multiple unused syringes.  

The crystal substance in the baggie where Smith was sitting was tested through TruNarc, which came back as a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine. Smith was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Center.

He is currently being charged with felony theft of property of a light vehicle, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,000. 

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