Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 29, 2023, dispatch received a call from an individual stating that their missing phone was pinging inside the Walmart on Mullan Road. When Missoula Police Department Officers arrived, they met with loss prevention who stated they observed a male that fit the description of the male in a photograph from the investigation the day before. 

An officer approached the male who was later identified as 32-year-old Travis Lozeau. The officer asked Lozeau to speak with him at the front of the store. Lozeau walked with officers to the front entrance and then abruptly threw an item in the garbage can.  

Lozeau was asked to step away from the garbage can, but he refused and stood in front of it, stating he had thrown away an old receipt. Lozeau continued digging in his pocket, even after being asked to show his hand.  

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Lozeau was then placed in handcuffs to ensure officer's safety, while an officer looked in the garbage can. The officer found a clear baggy with blue pills in it, which appeared to be consistent with fentanyl, as well as a brown package that contained more blue pills. The pills were marked with the “M30” marking.  

Lozeau looked at the pills and stated “not mine.” The officer read Lozeau his Miranda rights and began by asking about the phone. Lozeau stated the phone was currently in his back pocket and that he found it in a riding shopping cart. He said he walked out with it and heard the phone ring, but did not answer it. He also said that returning the phone to the store did not cross his mind. 

The officer asked Lozeau if he had anything in his pocket and Lozeau replied that he had paraphernalia. Lozeau allowed the officer to remove the items. During the search, the officer found three butane lighters, crumpled up tinfoil, and two burnt plastic “tooter” straws.  

While these items were being removed, the officer asked Lozeau if “blues” (fentanyl pills) were his drug of choice and Lozeau responded, “it was Percocet before that.” The officer again asked Lozeau if the blues in the trash were his and Lozeau replied “yep.” The officer asked Lozeau if that was what he had dumped in the trash can earlier and he again responded “yep.” In total, 704 pills were recovered, as well as several broken/partial pills. 

A Missoula Drug Task Force Officer reviewed the reports in this case and also spoke with Lozeau. The TFO knows from his training and experience that the quantities of “M30” pills placed in the garbage can by Lozeau are consistent with distribution quantities. 

Lozeau is currently being charged with felony criminal possession with intent to distribute, felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and theft. 

On January 31, 2023, Lozeau made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $150,000. 

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

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