Missoula Police Find Drugs in Vehicle Linked to Familiar Faces

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On April 25, 2026, a Missoula Police Department officer was sitting in the parking lot of the Sportsman’s Warehouse when she observed a 2005 white Chevy Avalanche driving through the parking lot and then parked in a spot. The officer recognized this vehicle from a prior contact a few weeks ago, and knew at that time, both individuals occupying the vehicle had suspended/revoked licenses. The officer could see that the individual driving the vehicle was 36-year-old Joshua Thomas. 

Upon approach, the officer saw Thomas notice her and quickly move something on his right-hand side. These movements looked like he was trying to hide something before she got up to his window. Once at the front window, the officer explained to Thomas why she was there. Due to Thomas’s movements previously while she was walking up to the window, and the possibility that he could have been concealing something like a weapon from her, the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle.  

As he stepped out, Thomas shoved both of his hands into his front sweatshirt pocket. The officer grabbed onto his wrists and asked him to remove his hands from his pockets, which he did. While standing there, the officer observed a small plastic baggie sitting on the driver's floorboard, a container of butane on the driver's seat, and some rubber tubing on the driver's seat. The officer knew from her previous interactions with Thomas that he is a known drug user. 

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Due to seeing drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, Thomas was placed into handcuffs and sat down on the curb. The officer contacted the on-call Probation officer and informed them of her contact with Thomas. While talking on the phone, the officer observed a second clear plastic baggie sticking out of the driver's seat. The on-call Probation officer requested a search of the vehicle on their behalf. During the search, the following was located: 

• A small plastic baggie of methamphetamine. 
• Rubber tubing. 
• A butane container. 
• A clear glass Methamphetamine pipe with white residue. 
• A small cut red straw. 
• A mostly empty bottle of alcohol. 
• A small white digital scale.  
• Two water bongs. 
• A bag with numerous small plastic clear baggies. 
• Multiple loose small plastic clear baggies. 
• Four packages of hypodermic needles and two hypodermic needle caps. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Thomas was informed he was under arrest. The officer performed a search incident to arrest and located an attachment for one of the bongs that had white residue on it in his pocket. The officer then transported Thomas to jail.  

Thomas is currently being charged with felony Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs, Criminal Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Suspended/Revoked License. 

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