Just before midnight on Wednesday, a Missoula Police officer was driving past a business in the 1200 block of East Broadway and he recognized a reported stolen vehicle parked in a parking lot. According to Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh, the officer drove in to the lot and discovered a male and female inside the vehicle.

“As the officer stopped to make contact with the two, they actually jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot,” Welsh said. “The officer caught the male right away. The female continued to run around the business and eventually ran westbound on Broadway. A second officer apprehended her fairly quickly. They are identified as 33-year-old Mandi Whitegrass and 29-year-old Nathaniel Racine.”

After they were taken into custody, officers discovered some evidence that led to more charges for Whitegrass and Racine.

“After the initial investigation, both individuals were placed under arrest in connection with the theft of the vehicle,” Welsh said. “It was discovered that they were in possession of drug related materials. During the course of the investigation, the officers learned that Whitegrass had a syringe in her possession that tested positive for methamphetamine.”

Whitegrass is being charged with felony theft, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and obstructing a peace officer. Racine is charged with felony theft and a misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.

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