Police Intervention Leads to Meth Discovery In Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On August 26, 2024, at approximately 2:04 PM, Missoula Police Department Officers responded to the 500 block of Burton Street to investigate a reported disturbance occurring behind a building. The officers arrived and made contact with 25-year-old Larae McClure-Rutherford and a male who were verbally arguing. 

The male quickly turned his body away from the officers and appeared to reach into his pockets. Then both McClure-Rutherford and the male walked toward an officer who separated the two.  

McClure-Rutherford stated she and the male engaged in a verbal-only argument over money. Then the officer observed a plastic baggie containing a white crystalline substance that he recognized as methamphetamine on the ground near McClure-Rutherford’s feet. The officer placed McClure-Rutherford in handcuffs and the male was also detained.  

The officer advised McClure-Rutherford of her rights, and she agreed to provide a statement. Initially, she claimed the meth was not hers and she did not know where it came from. Then she admitted she possessed a second baggie on her person and allowed an officer to look for it.  

The officer located the second baggie in McClure-Rutherford’s pocket. It contained a clear crystalline substance that also appeared to be methamphetamine. According to court documents, McClure-Rutherford explained that the male gave her the meth about 30 minutes prior to law enforcement’s arrival. 

McClure-Rutherford told officers that the male gives her free meth and she admitted that she just smoked some approximately one minute earlier. With regard to the baggie found on the ground, McClure-Rutherford stated that she and the male split it when he gave her some of it.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

The male denied possessing meth or providing it to McClure-Rutherford. He said McClure-Rutherford threw the baggie that was located on the ground toward him. An officer arrested the male and McClure-Rutherford. He then used the TruNarc scanner to test the suspected meth and both baggies tested presumptively positive. 

McClure-Rutherford is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The male was not charged with a felony offense. 

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