Deputies Find Cocaine During Routine Patrol in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On March 30, 2026, a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputy was patrolling at the intersection of 3rd Street and Orange Street. The deputy observed a Honda Civic across the intersection from his position. The deputy ran the registration of the Civic and found the status returned as “cancelled.”  

The deputy caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as 48-year-old Matthew Singer. While speaking with Singer, the deputy observed an open glass bottle of Corona alcoholic beer lying on the passenger seat behind the driver’s seat. The deputy observed that the beer bottle was actively spilling onto the floor mat, which led the deputy to believe the bottle had just been placed there and was mostly full.  

The deputy asked Singer about the cancelled registration, and Singer stated he had purchased it from the last registered owner but hadn’t changed the registration yet. Another deputy arrived to assist with the traffic stop and informed the original deputy that he observed a glass bulbous pipe with black and white residue. 

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Singer was asked to exit the vehicle and was advised that a deputy had observed the glass pipe and the open container. Deputies asked for consent to search the vehicle, but Singer declined.  

Deputies applied for and were granted a search warrant for the vehicle. A search revealed a small metal container under the driver’s seat that contained a small white ball of chalky substance. The substance was tested with a NIK test, which produced a presumptive positive for crack cocaine. Deputies also located tinfoil and a used hypodermic needle within the vehicle. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Singer was arrested and transported to jail. He is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, operating a vehicle which has not been properly registered, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle on a highway. 

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