Wanted Man From Helena Caught With Drugs in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On May 8, 2026, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to the area of South 4th Street and South Caitlin Street for a drug investigation. The complainant called dispatch, advising that two male individuals were using drugs inside a grey vehicle. 

Officers arrived on scene and observed a silver Acura. As an officer approached the driver’s side door, a male passenger opened it. When the occupant opened the door, the officer observed a glass pipe in the driver’s side door with burnt residue.  

The other officer went to the passenger’s side door and observed a male and female in the backseats and a male in the passenger seat. That officer observed a piece of tin foil on the back seat, a lighter, and a rubber balloon.  

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Officers identified the occupants, and 40-year-old Tyler Larsen was located in the front passenger’s seat. An officer spoke with Larsen, who advised that he was on probation. While speaking to Larsen, the officer observed two capped hypodermic needles sticking out from his left front pocket. Larsen denied observing drugs in the vehicle or using any drugs. Larsen said he grabbed the needles and put them in his pocket as law enforcement’s presence surprised Larsen. Larsen pulled out the needles to show they had not been used. The officer asked permission to search Larsen’s person, but Larsen declined. 

Then the officer spoke to Helena Probation and Parole. A Probation Officer advised that their office was looking for Larsen due to Larsen failing to check in. The PO asked the officer to conduct a search of Larsen’s person and a search of the immediate area of the vehicle where Larsen was sitting.  

During the probation search, the officer located a red and white colored straw and a small plastic baggie containing a white rock-like substance on Larsen’s person. Larsen, under Miranda, denied knowing what the substance was. Then the officer located tin foil on the floorboard of the front passenger’s side of the vehicle that had burnt residue on it.  

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Based on the totality of circumstances, the officer arrested Larsen for possession of drugs, possession of paraphernalia, and for a probation hold at the PO’s request. The white substance in the baggie found on Larsen’s person tested positive for Fentanyl.  

Larsen was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.  

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