Crime and Courts

Wyoming woman found sleeping in car in Bozeman, arrested for intent to distribute meth

Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:30 PM by Erin Schattauer

BOZEMAN - A Gillette, Wyoming woman is behind bars after police stopped to check on her on Christmas day while she was sleeping in her car and reportedly found 9.5 grams of meth inside the vehicle.

Carrie McGrath, 30, appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court this morning via video from the Gallatin County Detention Center. She is charged with possession with intent to distribute meth and driving while her license is suspended.

A Bozeman police officer stopped to check on McGrath after receiving a welfare check request for a woman sleeping in a vehicle that had been running for several hours in an East Main Street parking lot. After several tries, the officer said in court papers that he was able to wake McGrath who said she was returning from Idaho where she had visited a friend. Court papers state that McGrath's vehicle had "numerous indicators of drug transportation."

McGrath was initially arrested after it was determined her license was suspended. She was taken to the detention center. A search warrant was obtained for the car. Police searched the vehicle and found a bag containing 9.5 grams of methamphetamine in the center console along with four empty baggies, court papers state.

In court, a public defender representing McGrath said she is a stay-at-home mother for a 2-year-old child.

McGrath's bail was set at $15,000. Her preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 11.