Missoula DUI Suspect Jumps Out of Car, Leaves Passenger During Escape Attempt
Some missing headlights led to a felony arrest very early Sunday morning.
"A Missoula Police Officer observed a vehicle traveling on Russell street without headlights on, he initiated a stop around the intersection of Russell and Fourth, the vehicle turned westbound on Fourth and actually went to the intersection at Washburn before pulling over to stop, at that point, the driver got out of the vehicle and ran, leaving a passenger behind," said Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh.
The suspect was found about 40 minutes later, still wandering outside near Russell Street. It turns out, this wasn't his first time being pulled over.
"He's identified as 37-year-old Justin Branch and he has been arrested for felony DUI, obstructing a peace officer, no driver's licence and also for probation violation for another DUI," Welsh said. "The initial information they had after pulling him over at the time of the stop was that this was his fifth DUI "
The passenger that was abandoned in the suspect's vehicle was later released without charges. The felony DUI in this case was because Mr. Branch has had more than four DUI convictions.