Missoula Woman Tries to Run From Police, Gets Arrested for Having Heroin

Just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, a Missoula police officer was driving through a business parking lot in the 3100 block of Brooks street. According to Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh, the business was involved in the sale of alcohol.

“The officer noticed two young looking females that had gotten out of a car in the parking lot and were proceeding toward the entrance until they saw him in the parking lot,” Welsh said. “They stopped and watched the officer intently. This gave the officer some reason to believe that they might be concerned by his presence. The two females went inside the business and the officer went in to conduct a bar check.”

The officer went inside to confirm that everybody consuming alcohol in the bar was legally old enough to drink.

“When the officer went in, one of the females went immediately towards a back door,” Welsh said. “However, the female quickly came back and told her friend the back door was locked. This gave the officer further suspicion that the woman was attempting to evade him. When she came back, the officer asked both young ladies for their identification.”

Welsh says one woman identified herself as 25-year-old Jessica Johnson. Johnson left the business, but the officer later determined that she had an outstanding warrant.

“The officer was able to pursue her to a fast food restaurant that was nearby,” Welsh said. “He observed her attempting to get into cars in the drive thru. The officer reported that the female ran around the business. He pursued her around the business only to learn that she had actually gone inside and had been allowed into the manager’s office.”

The officer found Johnson in the manager’s office and placed her under arrest. During the investigation, the officer also discovered that Johnson was in possession of heroin and a syringe. Johnson is being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.