Man Escapes Pre-Release Center, Gets Caught With Drugs in Clinton

At around 10:00 a.m. on Friday, 36-year-old Luis Zayas signed out of the Missoula Pre-Release Center for community service at the Poverello Center. His community service was supposed to end at 1:00 p.m. and he was expected back at the center at 1:30 p.m., but he never returned. An Escape Incident Report was issued and an Escapee Wanted Poster was provided to law enforcement and the media.

At around 8:15 a.m. on Monday, a sergeant with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office told a deputy that he was receiving information from a federal agent of an escapee who was later identified as Zayas. He advised the deputy that Zayas was possibly located at the Clinton Market in Clinton, Montana.

When deputies arrived at that location, they found Zayas inside the store. Zayas was placed under arrest and a deputy asked if he had anything sharp in his pockets. Zayas said that he had a needle in his front left pants pocket. During a search, the deputy located a loaded syringe containing a yellow liquid substance, a baggie containing marijuana, and other baggies containing methamphetamine in Zayas’ pockets. Zayas possessed approximately 7.5 grams of meth. All the items were seized by the deputy and placed into evidence. Zayas was transported to the Missoula County Jail.

Zayas is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute, felony escape, and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.