Man Who Was Just in Jail Gets Caught With Meth in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On June 15, 2023, at approximately 1:55 p.m., a Missoula Police Department officer was dispatched to the Dollar Tree for a person needing assistance. A male reported that his brother 24-year-old Cameron Wolde would not get out of a truck he was not supposed to be in. 

Officers arrived on the scene and spoke to everyone involved. The male said he believed Wolde was under the influence of methamphetamine and that Wolde has a history of drug use. He said Wolde had been driving in circles in the parking lot and would pull into a parking space then backed out and back in again. 

Officers later learned that Wolde was on felony probation. An officer observed Wolde playing with his hands, tapping his foot constantly, and then knocking over a water bottle, and then dropping it again after attempting to pick it back up. The officer opined that Wolde's behavior was similar to someone under the influence of dangerous drugs. The officer contacted the on-call probation and parole officer. 

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The Probation and Parole Officer said Wolde was in jail not too long ago on a 72-hour hold and had a history of using dangerous drugs. A Probation and Parole Officer authorized a search of Wolde's person, and items in the truck he was driving. Wolde also allowed officers to search him without problems. 

An officer searched Wolde's items in the truck and located a black backpack on the passenger seat. According to court documents, Wolde was the only person in the truck when the officers arrived. The officer then located a pencil bag inside the backpack which had a knife and a red straw.

The red straw was bent at both ends and appeared to have a hard substance inside of it. The officer opened up the straw and located a crystallized substance. Based on the officer’s training and experience, the substance he located in the straw was likely methamphetamine. 

The officer read Wolde his Miranda rights and Wolde acknowledged he understood his rights. The officer then asked Wolde what was in the straw, and he said he didn't know but if there is a straw there it is probably drugs. Wolde also identified the pencil bag as his. Officers placed Wolde into handcuffs for a probation violation and being in possession of dangerous drugs. 

Court documents indicate the officer conducted a TruNarc test on the substance which showed a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine. 

Wolde is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and felony probation violation. On June 16, 2023, Wolde made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $25,000. 

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