Man in a Stolen Car Gets Caught With Meth, Heroin, and a Handgun

At around 8:00 a.m. on Friday,  Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“When they arrived, they found two people near the vehicle and detained them,” Welsh said. “The officers later determined that the vehicle in question had been reported stolen out of the city of Butte. The officers identified the two suspects, specifically 27-year-old Garrett Hamilton. Hamilton was found to have an outstanding felony warrant out of Lewis and Clark County and also to be on probation.”

Hamilton originally provided the officers with a fictitious name. The woman stated she had no idea that the vehicle was stolen.

“The female was identified, but she has since been released,” Welsh said. “Mr. Hamilton was transported to the Missoula County Detention Center after also being found to be in possession of dangerous drugs and a handgun that had been tucked into his waistband.”

The firearm contained a loaded magazine, but did not have a round in the chamber. During a search incident to arrest, an officer located three baggies of methamphetamine and one bag of heroin in Hamilton’s jacket. The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately five grams and the heroin weighed about a gram.

The officer searched the vehicle and located a homemade bong tube and a pipe, which is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.

Hamilton was charged with four separate felony offenses. He was charged with theft, carrying a concealed firearm, criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute.