Woman Tries to Evade Missoula Deputy, Gets Caught With Meth

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On August 18, 2023, a Missoula County Sherriff’s Office deputy observed a vehicle driving on Highway 200. The vehicle was missing a front license plate and had a significantly tinted/obstructed tail lamp from tape that was placed over it.  

The driver, later identified as 28-year-old Ashley Hooper, began to obviously attempt to evade the deputy. She pulled off the highway, darted onto another surface road, and parked in an apartment complex parking lot.  

The deputy learned that Hooper had warrants for her arrest and that the license plate on the vehicle was actually assigned to another vehicle. The plate was seized to be returned to the MVD. Hooper was arrested on her local warrants.  

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During the arrest, Hooper said that there was something in her purse the jail was not going to be happy about. Upon arrival at the jail, a baggie of a white powdery substance and a glass pipe were located in her purse.  

According to court documents, Hooper admitted that the substance was probably going to test positive for methamphetamine after calling it "reclaim". Based on his training and experience, the deputy knows that reclaim is when methamphetamine users try to recycle the used meth. Hooper also affirmed that the glass pipe was for smoking methamphetamine. 

Hooper allegedly tried to say the glass pipe was not hers and that she was holding it for someone else who did not have any pockets, however no one else was with her. The deputy also discovered Hooper was driving while suspended/revoked for her fifth offense and was not properly displaying a front license plate. She was issued a citation for those offenses and remanded on them. 

Hooper is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended/revoked license.  

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