Van With Broken Brake Light Sparks Drug Arrest in Missoula
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On April 28, 2025, a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a van operating with a burned-out passenger-side brake light. The driver also braked erratically and appeared to be moving around inside the vehicle in an unusual way, so the deputy initiated a traffic stop.
After the van pulled over, the deputy learned that it had been reported stolen. Backup arrived on scene, and the deputy made contact with the occupants. He identified the driver of the van as 30-year-old Nichole Iwan and her passenger.
The deputy spoke with the passenger first. She said Iwan had permission to use the vehicle from her "roommate”, whom she believed owned the van. The passenger said that Iwan had been driving the van for about two weeks. She said that she didn’t know the vehicle was reported stolen and that she had been inside it multiple times. After their conversation, the passenger was allowed to grab her personal items and was released from the scene.
Next, the deputy spoke with Iwan. Iwan said her roommate, the registered owner, gave her permission to use the van. She showed the deputy a handwritten “contract” on her phone. The note said Iwan was allowed to use the van from April 21 to April 30. The registered owner of the van reported it stolen on April 24. At that time, he stated that two females drove it away from his residence without permission.
Because of this report, the deputy placed Iwan under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, he located a nicotine pouch container in Iwan’s pants pocket. Iwan admitted there were drugs in the container, but said they belonged to her passenger. According to Iwan, the passenger slipped the drugs into her pocket during the traffic stop.
READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports
The deputy remanded Iwan to the custody of the Missoula County Detention Center. There, jail staff inventoried the nicotine pouch container. Inside, they located a shard of suspected methamphetamine as well as a bindle of loose powder, also suspected to be methamphetamine. The deputy utilized a NIK test on the suspected methamphetamine, and it returned presumptively positive.
Iwan is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.
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