Missoula Police Catch Drug Dealer With a Pound of Meth

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On April 12, 2025, a Missoula Police Department Officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Orange St. for failing to use its turn signal twice. The officer exited her patrol vehicle and contacted the single male occupant, later identified as 51-year-old Tully Sanem.  

The officer returned to her patrol vehicle to review Sanem’s documents. The officer learned that Sanem had called 911 to report a methamphetamine and acid overdose in November of 2024. The officer also learned that Sanem’s neighbor reported repeated drug use in and around Sanem’s trailer.  

Another individual reported that Sanem had sold them methamphetamine multiple times, the last time as recently as late March of 2025. That individual reported Sanem sold methamphetamine out of his box van and Sanem usually kept methamphetamine in a tackle box style container in the back of his van.  

Another officer arrived on the scene and observed multiple containers in the back of the van that could match the description given of the tackle box style container. The officer then contacted Sanem and advised that she had information that drugs were being dealt from the van. Sanem advised he had lots of people coming and going from his van because he gave out soda and played music. The officer requested consent to search Sanem’s van, which he provided. 

The officer found an organizer hanging from the side of the van behind the driver’s seat. There was a residue of clear crystal-like substance in the base of one of the organizer pockets. The officer also observed multiple unused small clear plastic baggies in the organizer. The officer observed a box on the floor below the hanging organizer and located a small clear baggie containing a small rock of a clear crystal-like substance inside. Next to the box was a grocery bag containing hypodermic syringes.  

Due to a multitude of factors, the officer decided to stop the consent search, seize the vehicle, and apply for a search warrant. Sanem was arrested and advised of his Miranda rights. When confronted about the drugs, Sanem stated he had multiple people in and out of his van, and the drugs did not belong to him.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

According to court documents, Sanem admitted he kept the hypodermic syringes to provide to those who needed them. Sanem further advised that he did not allow people to use drugs in his van, but if a police K9 were to go into his van, the K-9 would likely “start seizing” from the odor due to people injecting drugs while in his van. Sanem was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. 

The van was taken to impound. The officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for the van. The officer conducted the search and located roughly one pound of methamphetamine in the van. 

Sanem is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute. His bond was set at $250,000. 

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