Missoula Officers Investigate Late-night DUI Incident

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On December 29, 2025, at approximately 01:15 a.m., a Missoula Police Department officer was parked in his patrol vehicle blocking the intersection of Mullan Road and Broadway Street for all westbound traffic after a hit-and-run accident. While sitting in the patrol vehicle, the officer observed a black truck turn west from Broadway onto Mullan Road. The officer exited the patrol vehicle, took out a flashlight, and shone it at the driver’s side of the black truck, while putting a hand out and yelling for the truck to stop.  

The black truck continued past the officer and entered the westbound lane. The officer continued to yell “stop” and shone his flashlight at the truck. The black truck continued to drive forward, prompting the officer to run to the driver’s side and knock on the window. 

The black truck stopped, and the female driver rolled down the window. The officer asked the female what she was doing. She stated she had a hard time seeing at night and did not see the patrol vehicle. The officer informed her that the vehicle was clearly marked with its emergency lights activated and parked, blocking the entire westbound lane.  

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The officer asked the female for her driver’s license and identified her as Josi Johnston. While speaking with Johnston, the officer observed her speech to be slow and delayed and smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. The officer asked Johnston where she was coming from; Johnston stated, “downtown.” The officer asked Johnston to turn her vehicle off and exit. She did not respond initially and had to be asked multiple times until she complied.  

Another officer was dispatched to the location to conduct the DUI investigation. The officer escorted Johnston to the front of his vehicle to conduct the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. The officer observed 11 out of 18 possible clues of impairment. While conducting the SFST, the officer continued to observe the odor of alcohol emitting from Johnston’s person.  

The officer read Johnston the Preliminary Alcohol Screening Test Advisory, and Johnston agreed to provide a test. The Preliminary Breath Test result indicated a 0.197 BrAC. Johnston was placed under arrest for DUI and was booked into the Missoula County Detention Center.  

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

After Johnston was booked into jail, two cut plastic straws were discovered in her purse. The straws appeared to have a light-colored residue on them. According to court documents, Johnston indicated that she had previously used cocaine but denied recent use. Johnston indicated she did not know what the straws were used for or how they ended up in her purse.  

Johnston has three prior convictions for DUI in Montana. She is currently being charged with felony DUI and failure to drive on the right side of the roadway except when passing.  

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