Missoula Man Faces Serious Charges After DUI Arrest
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 12, 2025, at approximately 2:48 a.m., a Missoula Police Department officer observed a red 2004 Chevrolet Colorado traveling without illuminated headlights during hours of darkness. A traffic stop was initiated at W. Broadway and Higgins Avenue. The vehicle was registered to and operated by 43-year-old Jonathan Koontz.
Upon initial contact at the passenger window, the officer observed that Koontz had glazed, bloodshot eyes, thick and hoarse speech, and relaxed inhibitions. According to court documents, Koontz admitted to consuming “a few” alcoholic beverages and estimated his own BAC to be over 0.10.
Koontz agreed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. In total, Koontz exhibited 10 out of 18 possible impairment indicators. Additional ARIDE testing was conducted. Koontz’s pupils were slightly dilated, and he failed to complete the Romberg Balance test correctly. A preliminary breath test was administered after advisement and indicated a BAC greater than 0.08. The officer determined probable cause existed for DUI and placed Koontz under arrest.
Koontz Provides a Breath Sample at the Jail
Koontz was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. There, he was read the Montana Implied Consent Advisory and agreed to provide a breath sample. An Intoxilyzer test administered at 3:59 a.m. returned a result of 0.121 BAC.
After being read his Miranda rights, Koontz admitted during an interview that he had been drinking vodka, Fireball, and Crown & Seven at a barbecue and multiple bars downtown. He stated he last drank around midnight. Koontz acknowledged driving his vehicle and claimed he was on his way home to Big Flat Road.
He denied any medication use but admitted to cocaine ingestion earlier that evening. He stated he had purchased cocaine for $90 at a bar and consumed a portion later that night. Koontz refused to identify the seller.
READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports
Cocaine is Found on Koontz’s Person
A search incident to arrest was conducted prior to placing Koontz in the patrol vehicle. During the search, Koontz voluntarily disclosed that he had cocaine hidden in his right sock. The officer recovered a small bindle of white powdery substance from the described location. A Trunarc field test conducted later presumptively identified the substance as Cocaine HCl.
A check of Koontz’s criminal and traffic history revealed five prior DUI convictions, all in Missoula courts. Koontz is currently being charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony DUI, and driving after dark without lamps lit.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.
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