ST. GEORGE – The St. George Police Department announced Monday that a burglary suspect has been positively identified and arrested thanks to an overwhelming response from the public in helping identify the alleged suspect through photos.

Vincent Damian Trout, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 28, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

The Police Department initially issued a statement Thursday seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect. The man, identified as 19-year-old Vincent Damian Trout, of St. George, was subsequently located and apprehended Saturday after police followed up on tips provided by the public.

Trout is suspected of being involved in a Jan. 31 vehicle burglary in St. George during which two finance cards were stolen, St. George Police Detective Terrance Taylor said in a probable cause statement supporting Trout’s arrest.

The owner of the finance cards discovered one of the cards had been used to make purchases at a Maverik gas station and a Redbox kiosk, the statement said.

Detectives obtained video surveillance footage from Maverik and captured digital still photographs of a man who entered the business and used the finance card.

After asking for the public’s help in identifying the man in the surveillance footage, Taylor said, police received multiple calls from tipsters identifying Trout as the man in the photos.

A witness reported seeing Trout Saturday, and police were able to make contact with him. Trout who was wearing the same glasses, jacket and shoes pictured in the surveillance photos, the statement said.

Video surveillance footage of alleged vehicle burglary suspect, February 2015 | Photo courtesy of the St. George Police Department, St. George News

“(Trout) was detained and I conducted an interview with him in which he confessed to knowing the finance card was stolen and confessed he had been an accessory (look out) in committing the vehicle burglary from where he had obtained the stolen finance card,” Taylor said in the statement.

Trout was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

He was charged with one third-degree felony for unlawful acquisition of a finance card; a class A misdemeanor for vehicle burglary; and a class B misdemeanor for making a purchase with the stolen finance card.

“The St. George Police Department is extremely grateful for your assistance in this case,” the Police Department said Monday in a statement released to the public.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Citizen tips aid in capture of burglary suspect appeared first on St George News.

ST. GEORGE — Police took a 25-year-old-woman into custody after police found her passed out on a bathroom floor with drugs.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, according to a probable cause statement signed by J. Borrowman on behalf of St. George Police Officer Vincent Lusk, Lusk responded to an unknown call to a residence on 2370 South where he discovered an unresponsive female on the bathroom floor.

“I had to use force to enter the bathroom,” the officer’s probable cause statement said. “I was able to enter the room without harming the female and causing minimal damage to the door.”

Upon entering the room, the officer found Paige Anderson, of St. George, on the ground and a silver spoon in the sink, the statement said. The spoon had a dark substance on it, as well as some on the sink itself. A white lighter was also discovered lying on the ground.

Anderson was alone in the house with her 6-year-old son, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said. The boy was located somewhere else in the home and not in the bathroom with Anderson. Gold Cross Ambulance responded and transported Anderson to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George to be evaluated.

Paige Anderson, of St. George, booking photo posted Feb. 28, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

While at the hospital, the officer found that there was enough suspected heroin on the spoon to charge Anderson with possession of a controlled substance along with drug paraphernalia, according to the probable cause statement. He also concluded that she could be charged with a third offense involving her 6-year-old son.

“ … The child’s age make him disabled and the care taker failed to provide supervision, care or medical care for the child,” the probable cause statement said applying the circumstances to Utah law.

The residence Anderson was found in was also near to a church, so the drug charges against her were enhanced to a second-degree felony due to her being within a drug-free zone.

Anderson was charged by the County Attorney with a second-degree felony for possession of heroin, one third-degree felony for abuse-neglect of a disabled child and one class A misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.

This means, Despain said, that even though the child does not have a disability, because of the boy’s age, the charges still apply. While these charges are not very common in drug-related cases, they are used in situations such as this where there is a child directly affected.

Despain said:

We’re just grateful that the child is okay, and we’re grateful that Paige is okay.

According to Utah court documents, Anderson is currently serving a 36-month probation after she pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony for possession of heroin in September 2014. Since her arrest on Saturday, according to current booking information, Anderson was released on her own recognizance for those three charges, but remains in custody on a 72-hour hold for violating the terms of her probation.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: dchavez@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Police find woman passed out in bathroom with drugs; charge her with neglecting child appeared first on St George News.

VIRGIN – After an extensive investigation into a man who has been on the run from the law for his alleged involvement in a home invasion robbery and assault in Salt Lake City, along with warrants issued for his arrest, the man and his girlfriend were apprehended Monday afternoon in the town of Virgin following a high-speed pursuit and a foot chase.

The Washington County Drug Task Force arrested Jordan Matthew Lucia in St. George a few years ago on drug related charges, said St. George Police Sgt. Johnny Heppler, who supervises the gang unit.

“He was a significant drug dealer in the area,” Heppler said, “… he was well connected in this area in the drug culture.”

Lucia was convicted on felony drug distribution charges in June 2010 and August 2013, according to Utah court documents, and served time in federal prison.

Escalating problems

“He got out on federal probation and he absconded and so they were looking for him,” Heppler said. “He was supposed to be up in Salt Lake and he was gone; stopped checking in.”

Jordan Matthew Lucia, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 2, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Heppler said Lucia began dealing drugs in the St. George area again after his release from prison.

In October 2014, during a narcotics distribution investigation into Lucia, the task force conducted a controlled buy of heroin through the use of a confidential informant who purchased heroin from Lucia, according to Utah court documents. In January 2015, a warrant was issued for Lucia’s arrest for the first-degree felony drug distribution charge.

“He’s been on the run ever since,” Heppler said. “And his fleeing has been kind of excessive. He’s got a girlfriend named Jamie Pullman … they’ve been on the run together.”

On Feb. 5, the task force executed a search warrant on a St. George motel room registered to 24-year-old Jamie Richel Pullman, whom detectives observed entering and exiting the room. During a search of the room, a distributable amount of heroin, cocaine and a methamphetamine pipe were located. Detectives also located an Idaho ID with Pullman’s photo on it but with a different name listed.

Heppler said the urgency in arresting Lucia and Pullman escalated because of their alleged involvement in a violent home invasion robbery on Feb. 22 in a home located at 1463 South Richards Street in Salt Lake City.

“He was wanted for that home invasion robbery and he allegedly assaulted somebody, a female, as a result of that,” Heppler said, and added:

And then, just last week, in the Orem area, officers were set up in place to try to apprehend him and he led officers on a high-speed chase up there. It was very dangerous. He was going into oncoming traffic and things like that and so they terminated the pursuit because it was getting pretty dangerous. And he’s been on the run ever since.

Found

The Washington County Fraudulent Identity and Security Threats Unit, known as the FIST unit, made up of representatives from local and federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Marshals, Washington County sheriff’s deputies and St. George Police detectives, the county attorney and a prosecuting attorney, uncovered that Lucia and Pullman were possibly in the St. George area Sunday.

“We started doing some surveillance and we found the vehicle matching his description,” Heppler said. “It was the same vehicle he used in the high-speed pursuit up in the Salt Lake area. We found it down here, started tailing it and we were just doing some surveillance, trying to find a safe set of circumstances to take him into custody that wouldn’t illicit another chase or a fight.”

Heppler said the opportunity didn’t present itself to safely take Lucia into custody Sunday night.

“Given the fact that he is so desperate, and wanting to flee, and putting other people at risk in order for him to get away, we didn’t want to force a confrontation with him and place anyone else in the public at risk,”Heppler said, “so that’s why we were kind of hanging loose and just trying to find a safe set of circumstance so that we didn’t have to force a violent encounter – and we also didn’t want to force a chase because he’s shown just absolute disregard for public safety when he runs.”

The chase

On Monday, at approximately 4:29 p.m., a LaVerkin City Police Officer responded to an attempt to locate broadcast incident at the Hurricane Family Dollar discount store regarding a suspicious woman possibly in possession of counterfeit bills, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a news statement issued Monday night.

Jamie Richel Pullman, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 2, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

As the woman left the area, the witness was able to describe her vehicle to police, the statement said. Dispatch was able to determine the vehicle was listed stolen by the Unified Police Department in Salt Lake City.

The police officer located the vehicle around 4:42 p.m. in the parking lot of a grocery store and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, when the vehicle fled the area.

The officer initiated a pursuit of the vehicle as it headed northbound on state Route 17 toward Toquerville, according to the statement. The vehicle was driving in excess of 90 mph entering the residential area.

“Due to the safety concerns for the public, the pursuit was terminated by the pursuing officer,” the Sherriff’s Office said.

At 4:52 p.m., a Utah Highway Patrol trooper spotted the vehicle headed southbound on state Route 17 toward LaVerkin again.

A sergeant with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office observed the vehicle exiting the Maverik gas station located at the intersection of state Route 9 and 500 North. As the vehicle headed east on SR-9 towards Springdale, the LaVerkin officer made a second attempt to stop the vehicle, according to the statement. The vehicle again, fled eastbound on SR-9.

Due to weather conditions and traffic, the pursuit was again terminated just prior to the town of Virgin.

The off-duty Zion Canyon Police Chief observed the vehicle park near The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virgin and the occupant flee the area on foot, the statement said.

Officers with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, LaVerkin Police and Zion Canyon Police Department responded to the area.

Taken into custody

Lucia was later located, hiding in a vehicle on a citizen’s property and taken into custody without further incident just before 5:30 p.m.

Pullman was also located after the high-speed chase around 6 p.m. and was arrested for the Feb. 5 drug-related charges.

Both Lucia and Pullman were booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

While conducting a strip search of Pullman at the correctional facility, three counterfeit $50 bills were located on her person.

Pullman was charged with one first-degree felony for drug possession with the intent to distribute; two second-degree felonies for possession of drugs and a falsified identifying document; one third-degree felony for forgery; and one class B misdemeanor for drug paraphernalia possession.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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• Task force nabs man in possession of distributable amount of meth
• 2nd drug distribution arrest in a month for would-be shoplifter
• Arrest made in 6 alleged drug overdoses at DSU off-campus complex

Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Alleged home invasion robbery suspects arrested after dangerous high-speed chase appeared first on St George News.

ST. GEORGE — A man was taken into police custody Tuesday after allegedly crashing his truck and leaving the scene of the accident, evading police and then wrecking his vehicle a second time — and it was all caught on camera.

Ronald Bodi McEwen, booking photo posted March 3, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

At approximately 7:36 p.m., members of the St. George Police Department were attempting to locate a white Toyota Tacoma that had allegedly crashed into a block wall at 2051 E. Red Hills Parkway in St. George and then left the scene, according to a probable cause statement signed by St. George Police Officer James Schafer on behalf of Officer Tim Linton.

While patrolling the area, Linton, the arresting officer in the case, located the vehicle in question driving south on 1000 East toward St. George Boulevard, the statement said. The vehicle appeared to have been damaged from a crash.

“The front passenger side of the truck was smashed,” the statement said, “and the truck did not seem to be running very well.”

The officer turned on his overhead lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the truck, the statement said, but the Toyota’s driver did not stop. As the officer continued following the vehicle, the driver stopped at a red light and then continued on when it turned green.

At the next red light, however, the driver crashed his Toyota into the back of another truck that was stopped at the light. The Toyota was traveling about 30 mph at the time of the impact and did not appear to brake, according to the statement.

The driver of the Toyota was identified as 33-year-old Ronald Bodi McEwen, a resident of Salt Lake City.

During the investigation into the incidents, officers discovered the Toyota had an in-cab camera, and footage from the camera allegedly showed McEwen crashing into the initial block wall twice and also committing other offenses, according to the statement.

The video showed McEwen throwing a jug of chemicals out of the Toyota’s window, the statement said. In addition to the littering, the video showed McEwen swerving on the roadway and apparently choosing not to stop for police. He looked into his rear-view mirror and side mirror as the officer pursued him with emergency lights on.

“(It) appeared that Ronald was aware that I was behind him,” the statement said.

Following his final crash at the red light, McEwen was transported to the emergency room by ambulance, the statement said. There, he was treated and given medical clearance and was then transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

McEwen has been charged with one second-degree felony for criminal mischief for destroying property exceeding $5,000 in value; one third-degree felony for failure to respond to an offer’s signal to stop; two class B misdemeanors for reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident; and one class C misdemeanor for littering destructive materials.

According to booking information at the time of this report, McEwen posted bail via a bond payment and has been released from custody.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: dchavez@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Caught on video: Man allegedly crashes, flees from police, then crashes again appeared first on St George News.

MESQUITE, Nevada – A registered sex offender is in police custody Wednesday after police reportedly located numerous images and videos depicting incest and the sexual exploitation of children on his computer.

The Mesquite Police Department’s Investigative Services Division assisted Nevada Parole and Probation in conducting the Feb. 18 investigation which involved searching several computers and electronic devices belonging to a Mesquite resident and registered sex offender currently on supervised parole, the Mesquite Nevada Police Department said in a press statement issued Wednesday.

“The computers contained numerous images and videos depicting incest and the sexual exploitation of children,” the statement said.

After the discovery, police took 71-year-old Timothy Lairby into custody. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

According to the statement, the Mesquite Police Department has initiated a new criminal investigation into multiple felony charges relating to the possession of presentations depicting the sexual exploitation of children.

“At this time, the Mesquite Police Department does not have any evidence that local children are involved or are victims,” the statement said.

Lairby will remain in custody until the criminal investigation is complete, the statement said, at which point the Mesquite Police Department said it anticipates filing the new charges.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Man arrested for possessing images, videos of incest, child sexual exploitation appeared first on St George News.

HURRICANE – A 39-year-old LaVerkin man, Earl B. Chappell, has been arrested in connection with an attempted kidnapping Wednesday morning in which he allegedly displayed a gun and followed a Hurricane High School female student down the sidewalk outside the school, trying to get her into his car.

The incident spurred an immediate lock-out for Hurricane area schools and a region-wide search for the suspect with the aid of many agencies.

Earl Brandon Chappell of LaVerkin, Utah, March 4, 2015 | Booking photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Photos and information obtained during the investigation led detectives to positively identify Chappell as the suspect involved in the morning incident, Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said.

Chappell was located in LaVerkin, where he was detained without incident. He was questioned there and then taken into custody by Hurricane City Police with the assistance of the LaVerkin City Police Department.

“The suspect was cooperative and compliant with Officers,” the Hurricane City Police Department stated in a release issued after the arrest. 

There is no indication that there was any connection between Chappell and the girl he approached, Buell said, and nothing to indicate that she was anything other than a random target.

Chappell was booked on first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping, which applies when a kidnapping charge is associated with someone who uses or is in possession of a weapon. Bail for that charge is scheduled at $100,000.

Chappell was also booked on a class B misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Recap

Hurricane High School Principal Jody Rich described the morning occurrence that set in motion a regional search for the suspect. He said:

Just prior to school opening we had a young lady come into our office and report to us that someone off-campus, as her father dropped her off, followed her down the sidewalk and tried to encourage her to come in his car. She came in the office very shaken up and reported that to us immediately.

See full video interview here: News LIVE: Hurricane High school incident; STGnews Videocast

Six schools in Hurricane were placed on lock-out, which prohibited anyone from entering the schools without administrative approval. Shortly after 11 a.m., the lock-out was lifted and students were urged to use the buddy system as they left school and to be vigilant to report anything suspicious.

“We feel the area has been canvassed very well,” Buell said at about 11:10 a.m., “and the suspect is out of the area.”

Descriptions of the suspect were posted in news and social media. Over the course of the investigation, a suspect description developed characterizing the man as Caucasian; in his 30s to mid-40s; 5 feet, 6 inches, to 5 feet, 10 inches tall; 180-200 pounds; with a brown beard. He was said to be wearing a black beanie, dark blue or black jeans, a red shirt with a plaid jacket over it, and brown work shoes.

Tips from the public were solicited and many came in to assist the investigation.  Buell said in his statement released after the arrest was made:

We appreciate all the tips that came into our office and for the community coming together during this Incident. We also appreciate all the support and concern from the citizens of our community and that they are willing to take an interest into what is happening and working to help protect our children.

Related post

News LIVE: Hurricane school incident – report with updates 8 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. – March 4, 2015

Email: jkuzmanic@stgnews.com

Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic

The post LaVerkin man arrested for attempted kidnapping outside Hurricane High School appeared first on St George News.

ST. GEORGE – A LaVerkin man was sentenced to serve two years in jail for manslaughter and obstruction of justice in 5th District Court in St. George Thursday. The charges stem from an October 2013 incident in which a man ultimately died from injuries sustained during an alleged drunken brawl.

John Stettler Stucki, 55, pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter in December relating to the death of 64-year-old Donald Loomer. Stucki had originally been charged with first-degree murder, but the charge was reduced as part of a plea deal.

Judge John J. Walton noted that the presentencing investigation conducted by Adult Probation and Parole recommended prison time for Stucki, which could result in Stucki serving 15 years in the state prison system.

“But that’s not what we’re here to talk about,” Walton said, and looked toward Deputy Washington County Attorney Zachary Weiland.

The state asked for one year in the Washington County Purgatory Correction Facility for each charge Stucki faced, to be served concurrently. This would give Stucki two years in prison. With credit given for time already served, Stucki will be paroled in October of this year.

Weiland said Loomer’s family didn’t want Stucki to be incarcerated. However, the state believes “it is in the interest of justice,” as Weiland previously stated in court, that Stucki serve time in jail

The charges against Stucki stem from an incident on Oct. 9, 2013, in which police were called to a property in LaVerkin where Stucki was working as a caretaker at the time. When police arrived at the scene, they found an unconscious man lying in the driveway, later identified as Loomer, who appeared to have been in a fight. Loomer was ultimately flown by Life Flight to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he died following his arrival.

Police officers encountered an intoxicated Stucki at the incident scene, and Stucki originally told police he had never seen Loomer before. Bruised and bloodied himself, Stucki said he had been attacked by gang members out of Iron County. It is from this exchange that the obstruction of justice felony charge originated.

Prior to the incident, Stucki had been allowing the homeless Loomer to stay on the property in a tent. Loomer evidently was not following rules Stucki had asked him to observe while staying there, and an altercation took place.

According to court records, Stucki grabbed a stick and hit Loomer in the back of the head with it.

Both men were allegedly drunk at the time of the fight.

Edward Flint, Stucki’s lawyer, said Loomer originally had the stick, possibly a walking stick, and hit Stucki with it, leaving a scar with marks that matched notches on the stick. In an act of self-defense, Flint said, his client grabbed the stick and hit Loomer with it.

After hitting Loomer, Stucki wandered off and drank until he passed out. After waking up some time later, he found the unconscious Loomer and called the police.

Flint said there was a great case for self-defense, but due to the possibility Stucki could have been convicted by a jury if they went forward with a trial, Stucki opted for the plea deal. A 15-year prison sentence at Stucki’s age might as well be a life sentence, Flint said.

Stucki has a long list of prior offenses dating back to 1982, Weiland said, all of which are misdemeanors – many related to intoxication or theft – with a single felony charge in 2004 for substance abuse.

In addition to the two years in jail, Stucki will be put on 36 months supervised probation following his release from jail, write an apology letter to the victim’s family, and get a substance abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment. He was also ordered to pay $23,096 to Life Flight, but that will not be a condition of his probation, as Flint told the court his client’s financial situation would make it difficult for him to meet that obligation.

Stucki is also not to possess or consume alcohol or be any place where alcohol is sold or served during his probation.

“The biggest thing he has to overcome is alcohol,” Flint said, adding Stucki has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as much as possible in the county jail and has committed to continuing with the program once he is released.

“If anything, two years in jail is two years sobriety, and I think that he has a good start,” Flint said. “Ultimately, I think Mr. Stucki’s problems are related to alcoholism. I believe he is committed to make an amends to society.”

Related posts

• Stucki pleads guilty to manslaughter
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• Victim in LaVerkin assault case die
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• Assault charges substituted for murder charges against LaVerkin man

Email: mkessler@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post LaVerkin man sentenced for manslaughter appeared first on St George News.

WASHINGTON CITY – Two St. George men were arrested Sunday when police allegedly found a stolen bicycle in the back of their truck while responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle.

Timothy Joe Maas, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 1, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Officers responded to the report of a suspicious truck on the 100 North block of 100 West in Washington, Officer Laynce Bartruff of the Washington City Police said in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest.

When officers made contact with the two men inside the truck, identified as 27-year-old Timothy Joe Maas and 22-year-old William Frank Owen, the men said they were in the area waiting for a friend, the statement said.

“While talking with both males,” Bartruff said, “I noticed they had a bicycle in the back of the pickup truck. The bike was very new looking. I asked about the bike and both parties stated it was a friend’s bike.”

Maas told officers his friend had put the bike in the back of the truck when he gave her a ride and that she left it in there and had forgotten to take it out, according to the statement.

Maas gave officers permission to look at the serial number of the bike. The serial number information was run through dispatch and the bike came back as stolen.

William Frank Owen, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 1, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Maas and Owen were arrested for being in possession of the stolen bike.

Both men were booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

Maas was charged with one third-degree felony for theft by receiving stolen property. His bail pending trial stands at $1,950.

Owen was charged with one class A misdemeanor for theft by receiving stolen property. His bail was set at $1,500 during his initial court appearance on Monday.

Owen is also currently facing one third-degree felony and two class A misdemeanors for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia stemming from a Feb. 24 offense and subsequent arrest in St. George.

Since 2006, Maas has accrued a long list of convictions for theft and burglary, according to Utah court documents. He was also convicted of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia in December 2013.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Related posts

• Utah considers major criminal justice reform, reduced drug offense charges
• Woman arrested following shopping spree with stolen credit card information
• Stumbling man with sticky fingers, arrested for burglary
• Police Department warns of significant spike in vehicle burglaries

Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Better think twice before taking that bike; two arrested for theft appeared first on St George News.

ST. GEORGE — A LaVerkin man suspected of attempting to kidnap a Hurricane High School student at gunpoint Wednesday morning made his first court appearance in St. George Thursday.

The incident triggered an immediate lock-down for six Hurricane area schools and a regionwide search by several law enforcement agencies for the suspect.

Read more: LaVerkin man arrested for attempted kidnapping outside Hurricane High School

News LIVE: Hurricane school incident; police locate, detain possible suspect

Earl Brandon Chappell was arrested Wednesday evening within about 13 hours of the attempted kidnapping. Chappell is charged with aggravated kidnapping and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Earl Brandon Chappell of LaVerkin, Utah, booking photo posted March 4, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

According to court documents, Judge John J. Walton appointed attorney Douglas Terry to represent Chappell. Walton further ordered that the $100,000 cash bail that had been imposed upon arrest should remain in place.

Chappell’s next court appearance is set for Monday at 2:30 p.m. in 5th District Court.

According to the probable cause statement released by the Hurricane City Police Department in support of Chappell’s arrest, Chappell pulled a gun on the student as she was walking to school and told her to get in his car.

The girl screamed and ran away, and two witnesses to the attempted abduction gave police a description of Chappell and his car, Hurricane City Police Officer Steve Johnson said in the statement.

Photos and information obtained during the investigation led detectives to positively identify Chappell as the suspect involved in the morning incident, Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell told St. George News Wednesday.

Chappell was found in LaVerkin, where he was detained without incident. He was questioned there and then taken into custody by Hurricane City Police with the assistance of the LaVerkin City Police Department.

Buell, public information officer for the Hurricane City Police Department, said there is no indication the high school student has any involvement or ties to Chappell.

Buell said he is pleased with the cooperation and help the public and media provided in locating Chappell.

“It was amazing to see the support of the community. It was great to see the interest the community took in this,” Buell said.

“We appreciate the community support, the diligent work by the officers, and the support of the media getting the information out as quickly as they were able to,” he went on to say.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Related posts

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• News LIVE: Hurricane school incident; police locate, detain possible suspect
• 5 arrested for kidnapping, battery with deadly weapon
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• Alleged home invasion robbery suspects arrested after dangerous high-speed chase
• 5 arrested for kidnapping, battery with deadly weapon

Email: rwayman@stgnews.com

Twitter: @NewsWayman

The post Hurricane kidnapping suspect makes first court appearance; $100,000 bail stands appeared first on St George News.

ST. GEORGE —  A 19-year-old St. George man was arrested for drug and firearm possession after the Washington County Drug Task Force obtained a warrant and searched the man’s residence.

On Feb. 26, Layton Duane Baker of St. George was found in possession of marijuana, prescription medication, and a firearm, Lt. Mark Brklacich said. The task force is still investigating, but it is believed that the firearm was stolen, Brklacich said.

Layton Duane Baker, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 26, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s bookings, St. George News

According to court documents, Baker had his initial appearance in 5^th District Court Feb. 27 and is scheduled for his next court appearance Monday. Baker remains in the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on a $50,000 cash bail.

According to the probable cause statement supporting the arrest, officers found Baker in possession of oxycodone, oxycodone hydrochloride and methadone, all without a prescription.

Baker was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, three counts of possession or use of a controlled substance, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, all second-degree felonies; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.

Baker’s drug-related charges were enhanced for being in a drug-free zone – within 1,000 feet of a Catholic Church.

Brklacich said Baker was charged with possession of a firearm by a restricted person because anyone in possession of drugs is automatically restricted from having a firearm. Baker is also a convicted felon, and so is prohibited from possession of firearms, according to the probable cause statement.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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WASHINGTON CITY – A St. George man was detained for shoplifting at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Washington City Thursday, but the incident evolved to include a felony drug possession charge when officers found a tin container full of heroin in the man’s pocket.

Thursday evening, Washington City Police Officer Colton Skeem was dispatched to Wal-Mart, 625 W. Telegraph St. in Washington City, on a report of retail theft, according to a probable cause statement filed by Skeem in support of the arrest. When Skeem arrived, Wal-Mart Asset Protection employees advised him that Jason Gubler, of St. George, had taken merchandise without paying for it.

Jason Richard Gubler, booking photo posted March 5, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Skeem made contact with Gubler in the parking lot, according to the statement, and escorted him back inside to the store’s Asset Protection office. Gubler was read his Miranda rights, and Skeem then began questioning him about the stolen merchandise.

“I asked him about the merchandise and he said he had an item in his pocket,” Skeem said in the statement. “He took out a wallet and said he didn’t pay for it.”

Skeem told Gubler he was going to search him to see if he was concealing any other Wal-Mart items.

“I located a light that was Walmart merchandise,” Skeem said in the statement, “and then I located a small round tin container in his right pocket that had a black tar substance in it. I recognized this as heroin from my training and experience.”

Another officer performed a NIK, narcotics identification kit, test on the substance finding it tested positive for heroin, according to the statement.

“I asked Jason what else he took and he said a gas cap and the blue long sleeve shirt he was wearing,” Skeem said in the statement.

Gubler was arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. At the jail, a round, silver tube and a used syringe containing a brown substance were found in his back pocket.

Gubler was booked on one third-degree felony charge for possession of heroin; one class B misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia; and one class B misdemeanor charge for retail theft.

Gubler posted $6,360 bail and has been released from custody, according to court documents. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in 5th District Court on Thursday.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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ST. GEORGE – A California man and woman were arrested Saturday when they were discovered to be in possession of an array of drugs inside their van after being pulled over for running a red light.

While traveling east on Sunset Boulevard in St. George, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Jesse Williams noticed a white Ford Aerostar van turn right onto Valley View Drive without stopping at a red light at the intersection, according to a probable cause statement filed by Williams in support of the arrest.

Amber Nicole Ancalade, of Lodi, California, booking photo posted March 7, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Williams initiated a traffic stop of the van.

When Williams approached the two occupants of the van, identified as 26-year-old Amber Nicole Ancalade and 22-year-old Luigi Vincenzo Mancuso, both of Lodi, California, he could smell the odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, according to the statement.

“It smelled like someone had spilled a beer inside the van,” Williams said in the statement.

When Williams questioned Ancalade about the smell of alcohol, according to the statement, she told him she thought it might be coming from a blanket in the back of the van they had spilled beer.

Williams asked the two to get out of the van while he checked the driver and passenger seating area for open containers of alcohol.

“I noticed that there were no seats in the rear of the van,” Williams said. “There was a mattress and pillows, along with personal belongings scattered through the rear of the van.”

A large woman’s purse was discovered between the driver and passenger seat.

“The top of the purse was open and the contents of the purse were visible,” Williams wrote in the statement. “I could see a glass pipe with scorch marks on the bowl portion in plain view in the purse.”

The drug paraphernalia gave Williams probable cause to search the entire vehicle for contraband.

As officers searched the van, they discovered a distributable amount of a white crystalline substance which tested positive for methamphetamine, a distributable amount of a black tarry substance which tested positive for an opiate, and marijuana, according to the statement.

Luigi Vincenzo Mancuso, of Lodi, California, booking photo posted March 7, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

“(Ancalade) told me they were methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana,” Williams said. “Ancalade further told me she had last used heroin this morning.”

Mancuso and Ancalade were arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

Ancalade was charged with two third-degree felonies for drug possession; three class B misdemeanors for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, and failing to obey a traffic signal; and one class C misdemeanor for driving under the influence of a controlled substances.

Mancuso was charged with two third-degree felonies for drug possession, and two class B misdemeanors for drug and drug paraphernalia possession. His bail pending trial stands at $11,246.

The two are scheduled to make their initial court appearance on Monday.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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WASHINGTON CITY – A 38-year-old department store employee was arrested in Washington City Saturday after she signed up a customer for a new credit card account and then allegedly used that new credit card number to make a purchase at the store.

While working at Kohl’s department store, located at 650 W. Telegraph St. in Washington, Nicole Patterson, of Toquerville, used the credit card number of a Kohl’s customer to make a purchase at the store, Washington City Police Officer Robb Radley said in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest.

Nicole Patterson, of Toquerville, Utah, booking photo posted March 7, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

“She obtained the number,” Radley said, “after she enrolled the victim for a new credit card account at the store.”

Patterson keyed in the new Kohl’s credit card number and used a false driver’s license number to complete the transaction, according to the statement.

Patterson also allegedly stole a pair of Beats headphones from the store on March 7 and took money from a Kohl’s till on two separate occasions between Feb. 23 and March 8, Radley said in the statement.

Patterson was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

She was charged with one third-degree felony for finance card acquisition without consent and three class B misdemeanors for theft and retail theft. Her bail pending trial stands at $6,920.

Patterson is also currently facing 11 third-degree felony charges for forgery and theft and one second-degree felony theft charge for offenses that occurred in April and May of 2014, according to Utah court documents. She is scheduled to make her next court appearance on these charges on March 19 in Ogden 2nd District Court.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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ST. GEORGE – A 43-year-old St. George man accused of forcible sexual abuse involving a teen was arrested Monday.

Marvin Jeffs, of St. George, booking photo posted March 9, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Marvin Jeffs was taken into custody by the St. George Police following an interview with a 14-year-old girl who said Jeffs touched and fondled her private areas on Feb. 28, according to a probable cause statement written by St. George Police Officer Brandon Dunbar supporting the arrest.

Police also spoke to an individual connected to the 14-year-old who confronted Jeffs about the incident who stated Jeffs allegedly admitted to drinking on the night of the incident, supplying the teen with alcohol and “fondling” the teens breasts. However, Jeffs said he didn’t remember anything beyond that due to having “blacked out” while intoxicated, Dunbar said in the statement.

Police contacted Jeffs and he repeated he was unable to remember what had happened because he had been drinking, according to the statement.

Jeffs was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and charged with second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse. His bail stands at $10,000.

Because the incident involves a juvenile, the police were unable to comment on details surrounding the case, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said. However, he said the teen and Jeffs were acquainted prior to the incident and she came forward and told police what had happened, which subsequently led to Jeffs’ arrest.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: mkessler@stgnews.com

Twitter: @MoriKessler

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HURRICANE – A man is in police custody Wednesday after brandishing a firearm and making demands for prescription medication at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, located at 25 N. 2000 West in Hurricane.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at the Hurricane Family Pharmacy, where 37-year-old Jonathan Shon Forest, of LaVerkin, allegedly entered the pharmacy, pulled out a gun and demanded prescription narcotics, Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said.

After the man left the pharmacy, pharmacy employees were able to provide officers with Forest’s description and a description of the Chevrolet Tahoe he left in.

Jonathan Shon Forest, of LaVerkin, Utah, booking photo posted March 11, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

A witness followed Forest’s vehicle and was able to provide police officers with his location.

Officers observed a vehicle matching the description and initiated a stop on the vehicle in the area of 870 W. 400 North in Hurricane.

Forest was found in possession of the prescription medications taken from the robbery, Buell said, and was taken into custody without incident.

Upon further investigation, officers learned the weapon used in the robbery was a black airsoft gun without the red safety tip, which looked identical to a real handgun, Buell said.

Forest was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. He was charged with a first-degree felony for aggravated robbery. His bail pending trial stands at $75,000.

“Those involved in this incident did a great job to ensure their safety and provided detailed information,” Buell said. “Based on that information, officers were able to locate the suspect within six minutes of the incident. Again, we are thankful no one was injured in this incident.”

At the time of this publication, Buell said it is unknown if Forest is connected to any of the past Hurricane Family Pharmacy robberies. There is no evidence at this time linking the two incidents, he said.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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UTAH – An assistant hunting outfitter and guide was sentenced in Denver, Colorado, Wednesday for illegally killing and transporting wildlife in what is said to be “among the worst cases of illegal taking and poaching of wildlife” following a joint investigation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

L-R: Nicholaus Rodgers, Christopher Loncarich, Andie Loncarich, unidentified hunter and Caitlin Loncarich with a mountain lion killed in Utah without a license, then illegally checked in Colorado. Exact location not specified, circa Nov. 20, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, St. George News

Nicholaus Rodgers, of Medford, Oregon, who worked as an assistant hunting guide for Loncarich Guides and Outfitters, was sentenced to 6 months home confinement, a $5,000 fine, 50 hours of community service and three years of probation for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife antipoaching law. Rodgers is the fourth guide who worked for the Colorado outfitter to be sentenced.

“The disturbing conduct uncovered during the course of this investigation is a reminder that even today, poaching remains a threat to the wildlife populations,” Utah DWR Law Enforcement Chief Tony Wood said. “We hope this sentencing serves to deter those who are intent upon exploiting wildlife populations at the expense of present and future generations of ethical sportsmen and others who appreciate wildlife.”

On Jan. 7, 2014, a grand jury in the District of Colorado returned a 17-count indictment charging Rodgers and Rodgers’ employer, Christopher Loncarich, 56, of Mack, Colorado, with illegally capturing and maiming mountain lions and bobcats as part of a scheme to make taking the cats easier for their paying clients, according to a press statement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services issued Thursday.

According to the indictment, Loncarich was a big game outfitter and hunting guide who owned Loncarich Guides and Outfitters and operated primarily in west central Colorado on the border with Utah. Loncarich outfitted and guided mountain lion and bobcat hunts in the rugged Book Cliffs mountains, which span the Colorado-Utah border north and west of Grand Junction, Colorado.

The investigation uncovered approximately 18 clients, since 2004, who had taken part in the illegal killing of more than 30 mountain lions and bobcats, according to the statement.

“This is easily among the worst cases of illegal taking and poaching of wildlife I have seen in my 40-plus years in wildlife management,” Northwest Regional Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife Ron Velarde said.

According to the statement, Rodgers, Loncarich and other assistants committed numerous state and federal violations by devising a scheme in which mountain lions and bobcats would be located prior to a client’s arrival and then “hindered” or “shortened up” to make it easier and quicker for their clients to kill the animals when they arrived.

Methods of “shortening” the illegal take included trapping and holding the cats in cages prior to the arrival of the client and then releasing the animals when the client was present, as well as shooting the cats in the paws, stomach, and/or legs or attaching leg-hold traps to them prior to the client arriving on scene, the statement said.

In addition, many of Loncarich’s clients did not have the required tags or licenses to take mountain lions or bobcats in Utah, violating federal law when unlawfully killed cats were transported across state lines.

“The group often worked to sneak the animals unlawfully taken in Utah across the state line into Colorado, and frequently communicated via radio using coded language in an attempt to evade law enforcement officers,” according to the statement.

After a kill, the statement said, Loncarich often took the client to “check in” the illegally taken mountain lions with Colorado wildlife officials where Loncarich would provide false information to obtain seals for the hides.

Many of the cats were then transported back to the homes of clients who paid Loncarich up to $7,500 for each mountain lion “hunt,” according to the statement. Rodgers admitted to personally assisting clients in unlawfully killing 11 mountain lions and five bobcats during the course of the conspiracy.

Special Agent in Charge Steve Oberholtzer, who oversees Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement operations in the Mountain-Prairie region, said:

Many of the violations committed by Mr. Loncarich and Mr. Rogers appear to be the result of greed, unlawfully killing and maiming wildlife to increase his profits. The dedication and expertise of the state and federal investigators and prosecuting attorneys in bringing these persons to justice was outstanding. These convictions send a clear message that unlawful commercialization of wildlife will not be tolerated.

Loncarich was sentenced on Nov. 26, 2014, in Denver for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act. He received 27 months in prison and three years of probation, during which he cannot fish or hunt, and has to engage in mental and substance abuse counseling.

Loncarich’s daughters, Caitlin Loncarich and Andie Loncarich, and assistant guide Marvin Ellis, previously pleaded guilty to violations of the Lacey Act or conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and were subsequently sentenced in 2014.

In addition, three hunting clients have been issued federal violation notices for violations of the Lacey Act and those clients have paid a total of $13,100 in fines.

The case was prosecuted by the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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IRON COUNTY — A man and woman were arrested during a traffic stop Wednesday after Iron County Sheriff’s deputies found them in possession of nearly 600 ecstasy pills and a variety of other drugs.

At approximately 10:44 a.m., Deputy Doug Twitchell conducted a traffic stop on a black sports car after he clocked it traveling 102 mph in a 80 mph zone on northbound Interstate 15, near milepost 73, according to probable cause statements filed by Twitchell in support of the arrests.

After pulling the sports car over, Twitchell spoke with the two occupants of the vehicle through the passenger side window.

Brandon Love, of Denver, booking photo posted March 11, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

The man driving the car was identified as Brandon Love, of Denver, and the woman passenger was identified as Octavia Nelson, of Aurora, Colorado, the statement said. While speaking with the two occupants of the vehicle, the deputy noticed marijuana in plain view inside the car.

“I noticed a bud of marijuana on top of the ashtray in the cup in the center console,” Twitchell said in the statements.

Inside the cup, the statement said, the deputy discovered several cigar butts with marijuana in them. When Twitchell asked the two occupants to step out of the car, he also discovered a plastic container next to the passenger seat with marijuana in it.

After informing the two he would be conducting a search on the vehicle, Twitchell said in the statements, Love informed him there was more marijuana in the center console, but nothing else.

However, upon further inspection, the deputy did find other drugs in the vehicle.

According to the statements, Twitchell found a backpack in the back seat of the vehicle containing a baggie of cocaine.

“In the same backpack was a baggie with 571 ecstasy pills,” Twitchell said in the statements.

Octavia Nelson, of Aurora, Colorado, booking photo posted March 11, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

When Twitchell asked Nelson who the baggie belonged to, she said it was both hers and Love’s, the statement said. When Love was questioned, he said he knew the pills were in the backpack.

Both Nelson and Love were arrested and booked  into the Iron County Jail.

They were both charged with a second-degree felony for possession of ecstasy with intent to distribute; a third-degree felony for possession of cocaine; and two class B misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Love was additionally charged with a class C misdemeanor for speeding.

Love and Nelson’s bail for release pending trial is set at $15,000. According to court documents at the time of this publication, both remain in police custody with their preliminary hearings scheduled for April 29.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: dchavez@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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ST. GEORGE – A 27-year-old probation fugitive was located in St. George Wednesday and arrested for drugs and failing to stop at the command of an officer following a brief foot chase with officers and a trip to the hospital.

Chance Horne, a probation fugitive for failing to comply with the terms of his probation, was located at St. George Inn and Suites, 1221 S. Main St., after he was observed walking on the south side of the hotel complex, Adult Probation and Parole Officer Jerry Borrowman said in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest.

Chance Horne, of Hurricane, Utah, booking photo posted March 11, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

When officers attempted to make contact with Horne, he looked at the officers and turned and ran, according to the statement.

Horne was apprehended after a short foot pursuit.

After complaining of a knee injury, Horne was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, the statement said. While at the hospital, Horne was questioned about items in the pockets of his shorts.

“(Horne) admitted to having a drug kit in his shorts,” Borrowman said in the statement.

Borrowman removed a soft black bag from the inside of Horne’s shorts containing a syringe, two tinfoil balls and a clear plastic bag with a white crystal substance.

As Borrowman opened the tinfoil balls, Horne admitted they contained heroin, according to the statement.

The substance inside the tinfoil tested positive for heroin, the statement said, and the white crystal substance tested positive for methamphetamine.

Horne was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

He was charged with two third-degree felonies for drug possession, a class A misdemeanor for failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, and a class B misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox, of the 5^th District Court, set Horne’s bail at $25,850 during his initial court appearance Thursday.

Horne is scheduled to make his next court appearance on March 17, where he will be represented by court appointed Attorney Douglas Terry after being found indigent by the court.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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• Task force nabs man in possession of distributable amount of meth
• 2nd drug distribution arrest in a month for would-be shoplifter
• Arrest made in 6 alleged drug overdoses at DSU off-campus complex

Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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ST. GEORGE – The Washington County Drug Task Force arrested a 37-year-old woman Thursday for drug distribution in St. George. The woman is also facing child endangerment and other drug-related charges from an incident in January.

Janee Marie O’Connor, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 12, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

The task force conducted a narcotics distribution investigation into Janee Marie O’Connor, of St. George, task force Detective Nick Hallman said in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest.

During the course of the January investigation, the task force conducted a controlled buy of methamphetamine on two occasions in St. George through the use of a confidential informant who purchased meth from O’Connor, according to the statement.

O’Connor was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on Thursday.

She was charged with two second-degree felonies for drug distribution, and one third-degree felony for drug possession.

Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox, of the 5^th District Court, set O’Connor’s bail at $25,000 during her initial court appearance Friday.

O’Connor is currently facing additional charges for child endangerment and drug and drug paraphernalia possession stemming from a Jan. 27 offense.

O’Connor is scheduled to make her next court appearance on March 19, where she will be represented by court appointed Attorney Jay T. Winward after being found indigent by the court.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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• Task force nabs man in possession of distributable amount of meth
• 2nd drug distribution arrest in a month for would-be shoplifter
• Arrest made in 6 alleged drug overdoses at DSU off-campus complex

Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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ST. GEORGE – Officers arrested a St. George man for his third consecutive offense of driving under the influence of alcohol Saturday after he collided with a car in a fast food drive-thru in St. George before passing out.

Police responded to Alberto’s Mexican Food, located at 705 N. Bluff St., on a traffic incident in which a man drove his white Crown Victoria into a parked car in the restaurant’s drive-thru while traveling approximately 2 mph, St. George Police Officer Cameron McCullough said in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest.

Zane Craig Baum, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 14, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

When police tried to make contact with the man, later identified as 29-year-old Zane Craig Baum, he was still in the drive-thru and was slumped over behind the steering wheel of the vehicle, according to the statement.

“I knocked on the window, but (Baum) was not responsive,” McCullough wrote in the statement. “I began pounding on the door and window asking (Baum) to open it.”

According to the statement, officers were finally able to get Baum’s attention when they yelled to him that they would have to break the window if he did not respond.

“(Baum) slowly looked at me and opened the door,” McCullough said.

Officers could immediately smell the odor of alcohol on Baum’s breath, according to the statement, and described Baum’s eyes as “blood shot” and “glossy.”

The Crown Victoria was still in gear so officers asked Baum to put the vehicle in park.

“(Baum) then took his foot off the brake and began to roll forward,” McCullough said in the statement.

Officers again told Baum to put the vehicle in park and to exit the vehicle, at which point Baum complied.

“(Baum) was unable to stand under his own power,” McCullough said, “and had to lean up against the car for balance.”

According to the statement, when medical responders asked Baum what had happened, he admitted he “drank too much alcohol.”

Baum was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. He was charged with a third-degree felony for his third subsequent offense of driving under the influence of alcohol; and three class B misdemeanors for driving under the influence as an alcohol-restricted driver, being an interlock-restricted driver operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock system, and driving on a revoked driver’s license.

Baum’s charges were enhanced for having two prior DUI convictions wthin a time period of less than nine years.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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