MPD Catch Man Preparing a Dose of Heroin in a Parked Car

At around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a Missoula Police officer observed a parked vehicle outside the Magic Diamond casino in the 1200 block of West Broadway. The officer recognized the vehicle and knew it to be associated with possession and distribution of dangerous drugs. The officer observed a male and female inside the vehicle and both individuals appeared to be unconscious. Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh explains.

“He attempted to make contact at the vehicle and noted that the female in the front passenger seat was in fact passed out,” Welsh said. “The male had his head down and hadn’t moved since he first observed him. When he approached the driver’s side window, he observed the male in the process of preparing a dose of what later turned out to be an illegal drug.”

Witnessing a felony in progress, the officer instructed to male to get out of the vehicle. The male was identified as 33-year-old Curtis Babbitt.

“Babbitt got out of the car,” Welsh said. “However, as the officer prepared to put him into handcuffs, he tried to break free and run. However, the officer still remained grasped to his one arm, subsequently tackled him, and took him into custody. The female was awakened and was asked to get out of the car where the officer discovered further drug activity.”

The female was identified as 43-year-old Shannon Dooling. A search warrant for the vehicle later revealed heroin, metal tins, a tourniquet, butane lighter, and a spoon with brown residue on it.

Babbitt was charged with felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, and resisting arrest. Dooling was charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.