Female Found Unresponsive in Vehicle Sparks Concern in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On September 20, 2024, around 8 PM, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to 318 S. Orange Street for a welfare check on a person who was passed out inside a vehicle for about 30-45 minutes. The caller stated a female was not moving and there was no response to knocking on the vehicle. An officer ran the license plate provided by the caller and found it returned to 45-year-old Kori Deniger, whom he was familiar with from previous law enforcement encounters.  

The officer responded and observed Deniger in the vehicle. The officer’s knocks did not wake Deniger and it was not until he began shouting her name that she became alert, appearing confused about how to open her vehicle door. Once the door was opened, the officer could smell the strong odor of urine emitting from the vehicle, in addition to an odor of an alcoholic beverage.  

According to court documents, Deniger denied having a medical issue. The officer observed Deniger’s eyes to be red and watery and further found her speech to be slurred and incoherent at times. When asked, Deniger denied consuming alcohol or taking medications.  

When asked to exit her vehicle, Deniger became argumentative and asked if the officer was going to grab her out and continued to make statements about the officer beating her. Deniger continued being argumentative before exiting her vehicle. While speaking to Deniger, the officer observed a grocery bag on the floorboard in front of the driver's seat, which contained several cans of an alcoholic beverage. 

Deniger refused to participate in the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Officers attempted to place Deniger under arrest, but she began tensing up and trying to pull her arms away. Deniger was told to relax her arms and comply with instructions, but she began to pull away, throwing her body towards the patrol car and pulling her arms away from officers. At one point, Deniger began to flail around and attempted to crawl up the front of the patrol vehicle. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Officers were eventually able to place Deniger into handcuffs. The officer applied for and was granted a search warrant for Deniger’s blood. While applying for the warrant, the decision was made to transport Deniger to St. Patrick's Hospital for medical clearance. At the conclusion of her medical clearance, a legal blood draw was conducted. Then Deniger was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility.  

Deniger is currently being charged with felony DUI and resisting arrest. She has three prior DUI convictions. 

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