WASHINGTON CITY — A man was pronounced dead at the scene Thursday afternoon after his Chevrolet Corvette rolled multiple times down a steep embankment near Coral Canyon Golf Course in Washington City.

The Corvette came to a stop amid trees at the bottom of an embankment, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Melissa Anderson, St. George News, KCSG

At 4:30 p.m., Washington City Police officers were dispatched to a traffic accident on Telegraph Street near Fourteen Fairway Drive in Washington City. The driver of the Corvette had been traveling westbound on Telegraph Street near the Coral Canyon Golf Course, with his dog riding in the vehicle, when, at a high rate of speed, the Corvette left the roadway and went down the embankment, Washington City Police Public Information Officer Ed Kantor said. The man was ejected from the vehicle after it left the roadway, and the Corvette rolled down a 20- to 30-foot embankment.

(Report continues below)

Videocast by Melissa Anderson, KCSG and St. George News

The accident is still under investigation, and at the time of this publication, the reason the Corvette left the roadway is still unknown. However, evidence gathered in the initial investigation indicates speed was possibly a contributing factor, Kantor said. Whether the man was wearing a seat belt has also not yet been determined.

“It will be some time before the cause of the accident is determined,” Kantor said.

The state medical examiner was called to the scene and will take custody of the body and continue the investigation into the cause of the man’s death.

The dog, a Boston terrier, survived the accident and was taken by Washington City Animal Control to the Washington City Animal Shelter, where it will be held until ownership can be verified and it can be released to the proper party.

The identity of the Corvette driver has not been released at the time of this publication.

The Washington City Police Department, Washington City Fire Department and Utah Highway Patrol responded to the scene and spent hours there investigating the crash. As of about 6:30 p.m., Kantor said the responders would likely have to leave the scene when it became too dark and return Friday morning.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

 Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Scene of a fatal accident near Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

The path of a Chevrolet Corvette that rolled over an embankment into the trees near the Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

The path of a Chevrolet Corvette that rolled over an embankment into the trees near the Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

Scene of a fatal accident near Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

Scene of a fatal accident near Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

The path of a Chevrolet Corvette that rolled over an embankment into the trees near the Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

Scene of a fatal accident near Coral Canyon Golf Course, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

A Corvette came to a stop amid trees at the bottom of an embankment, Washington City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2014 | Photo by Melissa Anderson, St. George News, KCSG

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Email: hcoombs@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post 1 dead after rollover near Coral Canyon Golf Course; STGnews Videocast appeared first on St George News.

PAROWAN — A Washington City man was arrested Wednesday after a Utah Highway Patrol trooper found him in possession of multiple drugs.

Tanner Chournos, of Washington, booking photo posted Dec. 3, 2014 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

The incident began as a traffic stop when Trooper Clay Allred clocked a vehicle traveling 85 mph in an 80 mph zone on Interstate 15 near mile marker 81, Allred said in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest. The vehicle continued on I-15 where it then began following too close behind a semi-truck.

Allred initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and the driver identified himself as 19-year-old Tanner Chournos, the statement said.

While speaking with Chournos, Allred detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, and asked the driver about the smell, Allred said in the statement.

“I asked him about it,” Allred said, “and he said there had been marijuana in the car but there was not any in there now.”

Upon searching the vehicle, a black lockbox was located in the rear of the vehicle that had the smell of marijuana coming from it, Allred said in the statement.

“He denied it was his at first,” Allred said, “but later put in the code and opened the box.”

Inside the box, Allred discovered two-ounces of marijuana, 1.2-ounces of psychedelic mushrooms and multiple prescription medications, including: 11 Adderall pills, 10 Vyvanse pills and 44 Xanex pills, the statement said. A digital scale, a kitchen knife, plastic baggies, a lighter and a pipe were also found inside the lockbox.

In an interview with the trooper, Chournos admitted to selling or intending to sell the drugs found inside his vehicle, Allred said in the statement.

Chournos was arrested and booked into the Iron County Jail on Wednesday.

Chournos was charged with three second-degree felonies for possession of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and a schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute; two third-degree felonies for possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and marijuana with intent to distribute; two class B misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia and having an improper container for a prescription; and two class C misdemeanors for speeding and following too close. His bail is set at $15,000.

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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The post Man arrested after UHP finds marijuana, mushrooms, prescription drugs appeared first on St George News.

HURRICANE — A southbound Chevrolet pickup truck landed in the median of Interstate 15 near mile marker 15 and the Hurricane Exit 16 Monday afternoon.

Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy pulls into the median off SB I-15 above where a truck landed in the median of I-15, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 8, 2014 | Photo by Holly Coombs, St. George News

At 12:02 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s officers responded to the accident, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dave Crouse said.

A man driving a blue Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling southbound on I-15 when he began coughing due to a previous illness, Crouse said.

“He began coughing so much that he lost control and veered off into the median,” he said.

The driver suffered minor injuries to his nose, but was not transported from the scene, Crouse said. Moderate damage was sustained to the front end of the truck, and no citations were issued.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Hurricane City Fire Department, and Utah Highway Patrol responded to the accident scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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The post News short: Coughing episode leads to single-car accident appeared first on St George News.

NEWS LIVE: This report contains news live as it develops and is being updated continuously. Bookmark and refresh the page periodically for updates. Last updated 2:15 p.m. – see updates at top of the story.

ST. GEORGE – A search for four suspects that fled a vehicle and ran into the desert west of Interstate 15 at the Port of Entry near the Utah-Arizona border is ongoing and a citizen alert has been issued to residents in the nearby areas, particularly those in the SunRiver St. George community.

Update 2:15 p.m.

Three of four suspects that fled a stolen vehicle near Utah’s Port of Entry Tuesday morning appear to have been caught by Arizona Highway Patrol. The three are detained on the side of Interstate 15 at Arizona milepost 26.5, about one-half mile south of Black Rock Road Exit (27), AHP Sgt. John T. Bottoms said.

“Right now, the AHP has detained three individuals, two females and one male,” Bottoms said, “and we’re working with the St. George Police Department to see if they’re related to the incident this morning.”

Update – 1:30 pm

A woman reported at 9:43 a.m. that a Mercedes Benz SLK320 was stolen from her garage on the 4900 block of Bonita Bay Drive in the SunRiver St. George subdivision this morning, Giles confirmed in a public statement Tuesday afternoon.

The vehicle is described as a white 2002 Mercedes SLK320 roadster with a purple heart license plate. Investigation is ongoing at about 1:15 p.m. into whether or not the stolen Mercedes is connected to the morning incident near Utah’s Port of Entry.

SunRiver is a residential area near the area where the four subjects abandoned the truck involved in the incident.

Morning report

The citizens alert issued as a reverse-911 by phone, text and by email reads:

Criminal Suspects in the area

St. George Police are actively looking for 4 individuals that crashed a stolen car and fled from officers on foot in the area of Sunriver and Bloomington.  2 males and 2 females.  Male has a goatee, shaved head and tattoos.  Female is about 5’2″ and 170 lbs with dark hair.  The 2nd female is possibly a Hispanic female.  Please secure your vehicles and other property and report any suspicious activity to the St. George Police at 435-627-4300  

Four people, two men and two women, who police estimate are in their 20s or 30s, have led St. George Police and other agencies on a chase that started with a traffic stop on a 2009 Chevrolet 4-door pickup truck just after 4 a.m. for speeding.

One of the possible suspects under pursuit by law enforcement in the area of Point of Entry at Utah’s southern border, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo courtesy of St. George Police Department, St. George News

“A St. George officer observed a vehicle on I-15 traveling at 85 in a 65 zone and he made a traffic stop just north of Exit 2 here,” St. George Police Captain Mike Giles said, “made contact with the occupants – there were two males, two females.”

The officer obtained enough information to run checks on the vehicle and learned that the truck’s license plate was reported stolen out of Colorado, and the truck was reported stolen out of Wyoming.

“The officer made attempts to call the occupants out so that he could pull them away from the truck,” Giles said. “When he did that, the occupants yelled at the driver to “go;” the driver accelerated and in the process hit some sort of cement abutment somewhere along I-15 and blew the tire.”

The officer did not pursue the truck at that point but did watch it travel southbound, Giles said, and then saw some dust and debris further south from where he was located.

A truck ditched in the median by four occupants who fled police on foot near Utah’s southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

The truck sustained a flat tire when it struck a cement lane divider as it drove away from the officer’s location, a statement released by the St. George Police Department said. The officer located the truck in the median just south of the Port of Entry where there is an emergency vehicle turnaround that crosses the median.

The vehicle was empty when the officer arrived, Giles said.

“The four occupants from the vehicle had left and went on foot – we believe westbound – into the desert area,” he said.

Utah Highway Patrol was contacted and dispatched its helicopter, Star 8, to assist with the search. Deputies that were on-duty with Washington County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist when the incident began. Additional St. George Police Officers were called out quickly to assist with the initial canvass, Giles said.

Utah Highway Patrol’s Star 8 helicopter aids in the search for four subjects fleeing police on foot near Utah’s southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

By about 8 a.m. officers on scene involved in the search had located items believed to be ditched by the subjects, apparently running west at that time from the crashed truck, including a purse and girl’s shoes. About 50 feet further west they found a spring-loaded pellet or B.B. gun and a towel.

According to the police statement issued later, two pistols were found in the vehicle and area of the search but appeared at that point to be airsoft and/or b.b./pellet guns.

“They’ve been verified not to be firearms as in shooting bullets …,” Giles said. “We don’t know if they’re armed with any actual firearms but the ones that we found so far are the very realistic looking pistols so at a distance or from a glance you wouldn’t be able to tell if they are real or a B.B. or pellet gun.”

At 8:45 a.m., the police department released a photo of a person it believes to be one of the suspects, and reported that officers are still searching the desert area surrounding the crash site.

Citizen alert

A citizen notification was sent to the residents in a mile radius of the area. Citizens are asked to call 435-627-4300 if they see anyone suspicious that they feel may be associated with this incident. Do not pick up hitchhikers or allow strangers into your residence. The subjects will likely be looking for a means of transportation or somewhere warm to recover. Photos of the suspects will be posted soon.

Giles said:

Right now we’re asking citizens if they see anything suspicious, or if they see pairs or that group of four people or anything that doesn’t quite seem to fit the area – we believe they’ll probably be looking for transportation or warmth, shelter, food – just use caution, don’t invite strangers into your home; be careful about picking people up. If you have concerns, notify the police department at the 435-627-4300 telephone number. We can have officers come out and check.

This is a developing story, refresh page for updates.

St. George News Editor-in-Chief Joyce Kuzmanic contributed to this report.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

One of the possible suspects under pursuit by law enforcement in the area of Point of Entry at Utah's southern border, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo courtesy of St. George Police Department, St. George News

Multiple law enforcement agencies respond to incident of four occupants fleeing police on foot near Utah's southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Truck ditched in a ditch by four occupants who fled police on foot near Utah's southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Utah Highway Patrol's Star 8 helicopter aids in the search for four occupants fleeing police on foot near Utah's southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Truck ditched in the median by four occupants who fled police on foot near Utah's southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

Truck ditched in a ditch by four occupants who fled police on foot near Utah's southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

The post News LIVE: 3 of 4 possible suspects detained by AHP in Arizona; Updated 2:15 p.m. appeared first on St George News.

WASHINGTON COUNTY — Traffic was slowed Tuesday on Interstate 15 after a man crashed his truck into a crash attenuator.

The front left tire of the truck involved in the crash at mile marker 33 on Interstate 15, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

At approximately 9:38 a.m., Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Jesse Williams responded to the accident at mile marker 33, near the Ranch Exit at Snowfield, after a passing motorist stopped and informed him of the incident.

The man driving, believed to be between 60-70 years of age, Williams said, was heading southbound on Interstate 15 when he left his lane of travel and crashed his gray Chevy Silverado into a crash attenuator — or “crash cushion” — on the outside of the left lane. The man was also using a portable oxygen tank at the time of the crash, Williams said.

“He wasn’t complaining of any specific pain, but he had diminished mental capacity,” he said.

The man was repeating the same words and phrases over and over again, Williams said. Because that type of behavior may indicate a head injury, Leeds Area Fire and Rescue transported the man to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.

Damage to the crash attenuator that was struck by a the truck involved in the crash at mile marker 33 on Interstate 15, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

At this time, Williams said, it is unknown as to why or how the man crashed.

“We don’t know why he came off the road,” he said. “We don’t know if he fell asleep, if it was a medical event or something (else).”

The crash closed down the left lane of traffic in the accident area for a little over an hour, Williams said.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Email: dchavez@stgnews.com

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The post Man on portable oxygen crashes on I-15 near Snowfield appeared first on St George News.

ST. GEORGE – Three of four individuals have been identified and charged Tuesday after being detained by Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol Division south of Utah’s border after first fleeing a traffic stop by St. George Police and then abandoning the truck they were traveling in on the right shoulder of Interstate 15 near Utah’s Port of Entry and fleeing on foot.

Saray Diaz Fernandez, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, booking photo posted Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Saray Diaz Fernandez, 22, of Wyoming, and Brooks Anthony Burkhardt, 30, of Nebraska, both passengers of the GMC truck they were traveling in which has been reported as a stolen vehicle, were booked into Utah’s Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. Both of them charged with a class A misdemeanor for failure to stop at the command of an officer. Bail for each of their release pending trial has been set at $1,950.

Maurissa Renee Barnes, 21, of Nebraska, the driver of the GMC truck that fled the traffic stop by St. George Police, was booked into the Mesquite Detention Center in Nevada on Arizona charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and a Utah warrant issued by the St. George Police Department, Arizona DPS Sgt. John T. Bottoms said.

Barnes’ Utah warrant involves charges including a second-degree felony for receiving stolen property; a third-degree felony for failure to stop at the command of an officer; a class B misdemeanor for theft; and a class C misdemeanor for using plates registered to another vehicle.

“The warrant had a $15,680 cash bond,” Bottoms said.

Brooks Anthony Burkhardt, of Gary, Nebraska, booking photo posted Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

The search began Tuesday when a St. George Police Officer stopped the GMC truck they were traveling in for speeding on I-15 at about 4 a.m. After initiating the stop, the officer ascertained that the truck had been stolen out of Wyoming and carried a license plate stolen out of Colorado.

The officer asked the driver Barnes to get out of the vehicle and then heard someone inside the truck yell “go” and the truck sped off.

Shortly thereafter, the GMC truck crashed into an embankment on the right shoulder of I-15 just south of Utah’s Port of Entry. The group abandoned the truck – apparently fleeing west into the surrounding desert.

During an interview with detectives, Barnes said the fourth occupant of the vehicle, Andrew, also known as “Foodstamp,” pulled a gun on her and told her to “go” during the traffic stop, according to the probable cause statement by St. George Police Detective Wyatt Miles filed in support of a motion for Barnes’ Utah warrant.

“Ms. Barnes then left the traffic stop and said that Andrew switched positions with her in the driver’s seat which caused the accident,” Miles said in the statement.

Burkhardt, one of two men in the vehicle, told detectives that the fourth person, Andrew, was driving the vehicle before they were pulled over and made Barnes change places with him because he did not have a valid ID, Miles said.

Truck ditched in the median by four occupants who fled police on foot near Utah’s southern Port of Entry of Interstate 15 southbound, St. George, Utah, Dec. 9, 2014 | Photo by Kimberly Scott, St. George News

“Brooks also stated that during the traffic stop he told them the vehicle was ‘hot’ and they needed to go,” Miles said in the statement, “so (Barnes) took off and then Andrew traded places with (Barnes) which caused the accident.”

Around 1 p.m., the St. George Communications Center received several 911 calls reporting three “suspicious” individuals near Arizona mile marker 26.5 of Interstate 15 southbound, about one-half mile south of Black Rock Road Exit 27.

“At this time, it is believed that there is one male individual who is associated with this case that is still at large,” according to statements released by St. George Police Department Tuesday. “Investigators are actively working to obtain information regarding the fourth suspect.”

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

Barnes made her initial court appearance Tuesday morning and was transferred to the Mohave County Detention Facility in Kingman, Arizona, pending hearing on extradition proceedings to Utah, Bottoms said.

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Email: kscott@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Driver alleges she was held at gunpoint; 3 suspects identified, charged appeared first on St George News.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Children and law enforcement officers gathered throughout Washington County early Saturday morning for a day of shopping and a surprise guest. At the annual “Shop with a Cop,” KONY Coins for Kids partnered with Washington law enforcement agencies to provide Christmas for children who may not have otherwise had one.

(Story continues below)

Videocast by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

“This, to me, is one of the highlights of the year,” Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher said. “I think it’s very important that they see there’s a different side than the enforcement side and that officers are human. This is one of the best events – to work with the kids.”

Children and officers gathered at the Washington County Fairgrounds to enjoy breakfast and get to know one another. Police chiefs and volunteers served pancakes, sausage and eggs to the officers and to the children, who were eager start shopping.

At 7:45 a.m., residents of Washington County may have heard and seen a line of patrol cars with their lights on and sirens blaring as the Shop with a Cop participants made their way to the Bloomington, Washington and Hurricane Wal-Mart stores to begin shopping.

For many of the officers, a highlight of the morning was seeing the looks of excitement on the children’s’ faces as they got to push buttons to turn on the lights and sirens in the emergency vehicles. Treyvon, a child from Hurricane who was chosen to participate in this year’s event, said he was excited to get to talk on the PA system.

“It’s always fun to light up the car. It’s like a Christmas tree,” St. George Police officer Dave McDaniel said. “I know the kids love that.”

As children lined up to start shopping, a very special guest arrived in a firetruck. Santa Claus jumped out of the truck and greeted smiling children, who were excited he made the long trip from the North Pole to see them. While Santa was there, he visited and took pictures with every child involved in “Shop with a Cop” at each of the three Wal-Mart stores.

“It’s magnificent. The police officers have been absolutely wonderful in helping out,” Santa Claus said. “All the care and love that goes into what they are doing is tremendous.”

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

While walking into Wal-Mart, the officers and children were greeted by Wal-Mart associates lining the aisles, smiling and clapping.

“That is a tradition that has evolved over the last several years,” Hurricane Wal-Mart Manager Rick Heyrend said. “It’s kind of special for them.”

Wal-Mart prepares the night before “Shop with a Cop” by adding more toys to the store shelves, setting up gift-wrapping tables and having additional employees come in, though some are not scheduled to work.

“Not all employees here are working. They are just here to take it in,” Heyrend said.

After the children finished shopping and getting their pictures taken with Santa Claus, a group of volunteers wrapped and labeled gifts so the children could open them on Christmas morning.

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

KONY Coins for Kids selected the children to participate and also provided Washington County law enforcement agencies with the names of the youth they would be helping. Of the 109 children selected to be a part of “Shop with a Cop,” some were too young to go shopping. Officers and children bought gifts to take to the children who were too young to participate. Funds totaling $15,000 were raised for this event so every child could spend up to $150 on gifts for themselves and others.

“We really appreciate the opportunity to do this with our community members,” Jim Keith, Washington City Police chief, said. “It’s a lot of fun for all the officers. I know the kids enjoy it and, hopefully, we are giving back to the community a little bit.”

The following law enforcement agencies and government entities voluntarily participated in “Shop with a Cop”:

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Hurricane, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Samantha Tommer, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Washington County youth chosen through KONY Coins for Kids were able to eat breakfast and shop with local law enforcement officers at Shop with a Cop, Washington, Utah, Dec. 13, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

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Email: stommer@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

The post Sirens blare, smiles abound at Shop with a Cop; STGnews Videocast, Photo Gallery appeared first on St George News.

IRON COUNTY — Three people were transported to the hospital Sunday evening after the driver of a vehicle rear-ended a semitrailer truck on Interstate 15 near mile post 50, slowing traffic to a halt.

Emergency responders begin to clear the remains of a black Saab after it crashed into the back of a semitrailer truck  on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

At approximately 6 p.m. a semitrailer truck was traveling northbound in the right-hand lane, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper A. Gibbs said, and around mile marker 50, a black Saab, carrying three people, rear-ended the back driver’s-side portion of the semi, causing the car to crash.

“I haven’t been able to talk to the driver of the car yet,” Gibbs said at approximately 9 p.m., “but for some reason he didn’t see the semitrailer truck and came up and rear-ended it.”

All three occupants inside the Saab were injured, Gibbs said. One woman was transported to the hospital via Life Flight helicopter and the two men were transported to the hospital via Iron County Ambulance — one with head injuries and another with a broken leg. At the time this report is published, Gibbs said he was uncertain which hospital the three individuals were transported to.

While Gibbs said he thinks the Saab did roll, the incident is still being reviewed to determine exactly what happened.

The remains of a black Saab are towed away after it crashed into the back of a semitrailer truck on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

The driver of the semitrailer truck did not sustain any injuries, Gibbs said, but the truck itself did sustain some damage to its left rear-end.

Both lanes of northbound traffic on I-15 were closed for just over an hour, Gibbs said. After emergency responders were able to clear some of the debris, they directed one lane of traffic around the accident site. Both lanes were reopened after approximately two-hours.

Responders to the scene included UHP, the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar City Fire Department and the Iron County Ambulance service.

The collision is still under investigation, Gibbs said, and no citations have been issued at the time this report is published.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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The damage to the rear driver's-side of the semitrailer truck rear ended on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

The remains of a black Saab are towed away after it crashed into the back of a semitrailer truck on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

The remains of a black Saab are towed away after it crashed into the back of a semitrailer truck on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

Emergency responders begin to clear the remains of a black Saab after it crashed into the back of a semitrailer truck on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

The remains of a black Saab are towed away after it crashed into the back of a semitrailer truck on Interstate 15 at mile marker 50, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 14, 2014 | Photo by Devan Chavez, St. George News

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WASHINGTON CITY— Utah Highway Patrol arrested a 24-year-old man Friday afternoon after a search of his vehicle unveiled more than an ounce of marijuana and manufacturing tools for extractions of marijuana.

Just after noon, a vehicle driven by a man, later identified as Karl Wesley Young, of Aurora, Colorado, was headed southbound on Interstate 15. UHP Trooper Grant Hintze executed a traffic stop on the vehicle near Exit 13 for tinted taillights. Tinted taillights make it hard to see when a vehicle brakes, Hintze said.

Karl Wesley Young, 24, of Aurora, Colorado booking photo posted on Dec. 19, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

“When I walked up, the driver (Young) rolled down the passenger side window and I could smell marijuana,” Hintze said. “I asked him to exit the vehicle.”

During the search of the vehicle, paraphernalia for the personal use of marijuana was found in the glove box. In the trunk, over an ounce of marijuana was found in a backpack, along with manufacturing cooking tools used to extract chemicals from marijuana.

“There were cooking pots, a pressure chamber, hoses and butane,” Hintze said, “basically like a lab setup.”

Extractions of marijuana in the form of a waxy substance were also found. The extractions create a more potent form of marijuana, Hintze said.

Young was arrested and transported to the UHP office for questioning by state investigators due to the amount of marijuana and lab equipment found in his car. Young stated he was going to California, Hintze said.

Young was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. Upon being booked, additional marijuana was found on Young’s person.

Young was charged with a third-degree felony for possession of contraband inside the jail for the marijuana found on his person, a class-A misdemeanor for possession of marijuana, a second-degree felony for drug manufacturing, two class-B misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia and a class-C misdemeanor for unsafe vehicle. According to bookings information, Young’s current bail stands at $16,970.

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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IRON COUNTY – A Riverside, California man traveling through Southern Utah on his way to Colorado was arrested Monday by the Utah Highway Patrol for having more than a pound of marijuana in his possession.

Although he carried a current and valid medical marijuana card from the state of California, 31-year-old Deyton Francois Davis was still breaking the law in Utah, said UHP Sgt. Ryan Bauer.

“You can’t bring marijuana into the state of Utah even if you have a medical card,” Bauer said. “Because of the way the laws of the constitution are set up, you have to obey the laws of each state that you are in while you are in it.”

When asked why he didn’t wait until arriving in Colorado to purchase marijuana for consumption, Davis told the UHP trooper that the product was much cheaper in California, Bauer said.

Davis was driving a rented black 2010 Infiniti and was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 15 at mile marker 70, just south of Parowan, Bauer said. The SUV was traveling at 90 mph.

It wasn’t until the driver rolled down the window and the trooper smelled marijuana that the vehicle was searched on a probable cause warrant.

“Based on the smell, the trooper went ahead and conducted a search of the man’s SUV and found approximately one-and-a-half pounds of marijuana,” he said.

During the search, Bauer said, Davis admitted to the trooper that he had been smoking marijuana recently. Davis was arrested and remanded to the custody of the Iron County Jail at 1:01 p.m.

According to the Iron County Bookings website, Davis was charged with two third-degree felonies, possession of marijuana 16 ounces to 100 pounds and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance; two class B misdemeanors, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a measurable controlled substance (DUI metabolite); and an infraction for speeding.

According to the report, Bauer said, Davis was also driving on a suspended or revoked license which the trooper charged him with at the scene.

A representative of the Iron County Jail said that Davis’ bail is currently set at $7,500, but that it is subject to change after he goes before a judge. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Davis was still in custody.

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Email: cmiller@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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BEAVER COUNTY – A Utah Department of Transportation employee was transported to the hospital Christmas Day following injuries he sustained when the 60,000-pound snowplow he was operating slid sideways and tipped over near southbound Interstate 15 Manderfield Exit 120.

The fully loaded UDOT truck was pushing snow to the side of the road while exiting the interstate when the tires were caught in the soft dirt to the side of the paved road and flipped over on its side, breaking the windows and injuring the driver, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Gary McInelly said.

“He was transported by ambulance to the Beaver Valley Hospital where he was treated for injuries,” he said. “He had some lacerations and chest injuries.”

The roads were wet, McInelly said, but not badly covered in snow, despite the day of snowfall seen across the state this Christmas.

The injured driver was just ending his shift and preparing to head home when the accident occurred, UDOT Region 4 Public Information Officer Kevin Kitchen said. The truck was carrying a full load of salt, equaling about 8 cubic yards of a salt, he said.

The truck itself was totaled, Kitchen said. It was an older model that would cost an estimated $160,000 to $180,000 for UDOT to replace, which is actually much cheaper than the newer models they have purchased in more recent years, he said. Insurance coverage is expected to cover the cost.

“It’s a dangerous job,” he said. “People don’t realize how many things are going on at once with one of those plows, but, because he has such a load, and that load is a little bit high up, it makes the truck top-heavy.”

A 60,000 pound UDOT snowplow truck flipped over on Interstate 15 near southbound Exit 120, Manderfield, Utah, Dec. 24, 2014 | Photo by Corbin Wade, KCSG Television and St. George News

It took nearly four hours for Anytime Towing Owner Brian Pender to drag the totaled truck to the road and onto a flat, hard surface, so that it could then be flipped right-side-up.

“It’s just been one of those days for us today,” Pender said. “Just this morning someone stole one of our wreckers – he tried to help someone with it and got it stuck in the process, and that’s how they caught him.”

He was wrapping up that incident when the call came in for help with the UDOT snowplow, he said.

The process was particularly difficult, McInelly said, because the plow on the front of the truck continually got in the way when the Kenworth heavy duty wrecker was pulling the truck upright.

“The plow itself caused quite a problem,” he said. “It kept binding up into the roadway and getting caught while they were tipping it up.”

McInelly said they couldn’t remove the plow from the front of the truck until it was upright. Pender worked the plow truck until it finally flipped onto its tires.

As this report is published, the name of the injured snowplow driver has not been released.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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Email: cmiller@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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NEW HARMONY —  A woman driving northbound on Interstate 15 near mile marker 44 lost control of her vehicle Friday morning and slid off the road.

Just after 9 a.m. a woman driving a 1995 blue Mitsubishi Eclipse, along with a male passenger, was headed north on I-15. Near mile marker 44, the woman lost control and the car spun left into the cable barrier, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Nathan Clark said.

After the car struck the cable barrier, it slid into several posts, and then bounced off a post and slid across the road to the right side where it came to rest facing south on the grassy shoulder.

Iron County Sheriff’s Office deputies, UHP, and Iron County Ambulance responded to the scene.

The car’s airbags deployed, and the woman suffered minor lacerations to the face. She also said her chest hurt from the seat belt, Clark said. The passenger also suffered lacerations to the face. Both the driver and the passenger were wearing seat belts.

The driver’s loss of control could have resulted from wet roads or ice, Clark said.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by responders on scene and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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TOQUERVILLE - A double-wide trailer was flipped on its side Wednesday at approximately 9:30 a.m. due to high winds in the Toquerville area. The convoy, consisting of  front and rear pilot vehicles and the tractor-trailer carrying the double-wide, was traveling east on state Route 17 and came from Denver, Colorado,  heading to Colorado City, Arizona.

Members of the convoy had to stop and direct traffic while emergency crews with the help of Brackens Auto Tech and Tires out of St. George moved the trailer off the road.

“We were on our way from Denver to Colorado City, and the winds were just too much through this canyon,” the owner of the trailer said. “I hired a company to transport this thing and unfortunately because they’re so fragile, the trailer is pretty much garbage now. We are just moving it off the road right now and waiting for the wind to die down before we figure out what we can do.”

Wind gusts reached nearly 25 miles per hour when the convoy was passing through the area, according to weather.org. Because of inclement weather throughout the day, the trailer is still on the side of the road as of Thursday morning.

“There was a semi pulling a trailer with a trailer home at about mile marker 4, and as the driver took the curve on that road, the winds were so strong that it caught the trailer home and it rolled the trailer,” Lawrence Hopper of the Department of Public Safety said Thursday morning. “The truck stayed on all fours, so it was just the trailer that rolled. Fortunately there were no injuries. We called the tow crews but realized that the winds were too strong to move the trailer. So we moved it onto the shoulder and made arrangements with the company to move it today.”

Utah Highway Patrol and La Verkin City Police Department both responded to the accident, assisting the crew in keeping everyone safe and directing the flow of traffic.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

Brackens Auto Tech and Tires came to assist the group moving a double-wide trailer that was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

A double-wide trailer was blown by wind onto its side on state Route 17 in Toquerville, Utah, Dec. 31, 2014 | Photo by Ron Chaffin, St. George News

Brett Brostrom

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Twitter: @STGnews

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BEAVER COUNTY — Two men were transported to Beaver Valley Hospital and southbound traffic on Interstate 15 was redirected for several hours after a UPS semitruck and a dump truck collided in Beaver County Wednesday afternoon.

At 4:33 p.m., a triple-trailer UPS semitruck was traveling behind a slow-moving dump truck in the same southbound lane of Interstate 15 near milepost 124 when the semitruck crashed into the back of the dump truck, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Preston Holgreen said.

Traffic in the southbound lanes of I-15 from milepost 124 was redirected to the emergency lane for a few hours following a collision between a UPS semitruck and a dump truck, near Beaver, Utah, Jan. 28, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Jim and Kelly McCune, St. George News

The dump truck rolled and landed on its top while the middle UPS semitrailer tipped over into the median of I-15. The rest of the semi’s trailers blocked all southbound lanes as a result of the accident, Holgreen said.

Both drivers were transported by Beaver Ambulance to the Beaver Valley Hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Holgreen said. The UPS driver sustained head injuries while the dump truck driver had back and head injuries.

Both trucks were severely damaged as a result of the accident and were still being removed by tow trucks at the time of this publication.

Traffic was directed through the emergency lane and off the shoulder of I-15 while both southbound lanes were blocked off. One lane was reopened after 7 p.m. once part of the accident scene was cleared, Holgreen said.

Two truck drivers were transported to Beaver Valley Hospital following a rollover in Interstate 15, near Beaver, Utah, Jan. 28, 2015 | Photo Courtesy of Jim and Kelly McCune, St. George News

At the time this report is published, no citations have been issued in connection with the incident, though the UPS driver was the at-fault driver for traveling too fast behind the dump truck, Holgreen said.

“Even if moving slow, you can’t run into the back of someone,” Holgreen said.

Preliminary investigations indicate the dump truck was traveling 30-40 mph and the UPS semitruck was traveling about 65 mph at the time of the accident, he said.

The Utah Highway Patrol, Utah Department of Transportation and Beaver Ambulance attended to the accident scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by the authorities and may not contain the full scope of findings.  Persons cited are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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ST. GEORGE  —  An elderly woman became confused and crashed into a sign while driving on the Southern Parkway Wednesday morning.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. officers from St. George Police Department and Utah Highway Patrol responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Exit 6 on the Southern Parkway.

A newer model grey Mercedes, driven by a 70-year-old woman, was traveling westbound on the Southern Parkway about one mile from the St. George Municipal Airport, when the driver became confused at the point where the highway becomes divided, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Pastor said.

To watch videocast, click play arrow    in center of image at top of this story

Not knowing which way to go, she collided with a road sign, shearing it off at the base and causing front end damage to the vehicle.

“This area is a little bit tricky, on both ends, just because it goes from a divided highway into a two-way (highway). That can become confusing if people aren’t aware of it, or if they’re not from the area,” Pastor said. “The speed was reportedly slow and the woman was wearing her seat belt,” Pastor said.

After the accident, the woman was able to get out of the vehicle on her own. She refused medical treatment and was not transported to the hospital.

St. George Police, two Highway Patrol troopers, St. George Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the scene. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene, and no traffic delays were reported.

Ed. note: Corrected name of airport

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

The post Confused driver crashes, takes out sign on Southern Parkway; STGnews Videocast appeared first on St George News.

PINTURA – Two California vacationers on their way to a Utah cabin were involved in an accident near Pintura Thursday that totaled their vehicle and ended their weekend plans before they got started.

An SUV is total in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

A call about the accident came into dispatch at about 12:15 p.m. from an off-duty officer who was in the area at the time of the crash, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Mark Cooper said. The wreck happened at the northbound Pintura exit on Interstate 15, at milepost 31.

The white 2010 Saturn SUV was pulling a trailer filled with snowmobile gear at the time of the accident, and both the SUV and the trailer were totaled, Cooper said.

There were no other vehicles involved in the accident and neither the driver nor the passenger were injured in the crash.

The accident was the result of fatigued driving, Cooper said. The driver had only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before setting out on the road trip. Cooper said he did not believe alcohol or drugs played any role in the incident.

Debris from a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

The driver of the vehicle swerved to the right at the tip of the Pintura exit, Cooper said, and the SUV’s tires were pulled in by loose gravel on the side of the road where the blacktop was wearing away.

The driver tried to correct the trajectory of the SUV, he said, but the trailer hit the guardrail and was ripped away from the rear of the vehicle, sending the SUV careening into the sidewall along the interstate and demolishing the entire passenger side of the vehicle.

The driver will be cited for improper lane change, Cooper said.

Though the driver declined to comment to St. George News, the passenger of the vehicle said neither of them have family or friends in the area, so they will have to go back to California along with their totaled SUV.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

Single-car accident on Interstate 15, Pintura, Utah, Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News

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WASHINGTON COUNTY — The Utah Highway Patrol DUI Squad, based out of Salt Lake City, hit stretches of Washington County highways Friday and Saturday evenings, targeting people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

During the DUI Squad’s routine visit, a total of 13 people were arrested for DUI — eight on Friday and five on Saturday, said UHP Lt. Brad Horne, who serves as commander for the UHP DUI Squad.

Of the arrests, the person who showed the highest inebriation was a man who blew a 0.083, which is a relatively low breath alcohol content and just barely over the threshold of illegality, Horne said, but the man had difficulty standing up and almost fell over several times during the field sobriety tests, he said.

In this case, drugs and/or medications were most likely ingested along with the alcohol, heightening the effects of alcohol, Horne said. If any medication or drugs are taken, even just the slightest bit of alcohol can tip someone into the danger zone much quicker because of the mixture of controlled substances.

The focus of the UHP DUI Squad is to reduce the numbers of intoxicated drivers for the safety of others on the road.

According to Utah State Legislature, under code 41-6a-502, a person may not operate or be in actual physical control of a vehicle within Utah if the person has sufficient alcohol in their body that a subsequent chemical test shows the person has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 grams or greater at the time of the test.

“We find DUIs absolutely everywhere,” Horne said. “What’s dangerous is anyone driving around drunk.”

The lower the number of arrests during a visit, the more successful Horne said the UHP DUI Squad feels.

Oftentimes, on a weekend visit, the number of DUI arrests reduces to half as many as the first night, Horne said. Part of this reduction is thanks to word of mouth and people knowing that there is extra patrol on the highways.

“The reduction is a signal of our success,” he said. “If we didn’t get a single DUI arrest we would be ecstatic.”

Resources

• 41-6a-502 – Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both

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Email: astoddard@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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WASHINGTON COUNTY — A 19-year-old Colorado man is in police custody after he was discovered to be driving a stolen vehicle Friday during a traffic stop on Interstate 15.

Justin Colman, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, booking photo posted Feb. 5, 2015 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office

While Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Lars Gardner was parked in the I-15 median at 7:15 a.m. Friday, he clocked a silver Toyota Camry traveling south at 94 mph, Gardner wrote in a probable cause statement supporting the arrest. The trooper conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle around milepost 33 and spoke with the two occupants.

Upon speaking with the trooper, the driver of the Camry, Justin Colman, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, informed the trooper he had just purchased the car from a friend, the statement said.

“Dispatch then advised me that the plates had returned as stolen plates,” Gardner said in the statement. “I ordered (Colman) to turn off the car and remove the key.”

After running the vehicle’s identification number, Gardner also discovered that the vehicle itself was also reported stolen, the statement said. Gardner placed both Colman and the passenger under arrest and searched the vehicle.

During an inventory of the vehicle, troopers located a purple metal and wood pipe containing burnt marijuana inside the car’s center console, Gardner said in the statement. After this discovery, Gardner spoke with Colman about what he had found.

“He admitted that he that he had stolen the vehicle and the plate,” Gardner said in the statement. “He admitted that the drug paraphernalia was his. He explained (the passenger) had nothing to do with any of the crimes and was just along for the ride.”

After clearing the scene, the troopers transported the passenger to their office to await his mother and placed Colman under arrest, the statement said.

Colman was transported and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. He was charged with one second-degree felony for theft of an operable vehicle, two class B misdemeanors for theft and possession of drug paraphernalia and once class C misdemeanor for speeding. His bail for release is set at $12,000.

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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ST. GEORGE — A man is incarcerated and faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly rolled a stolen vehicle on Interstate 15 on Feb. 4 and then fled the scene of the accident on foot.

At approximately 3 a.m. on Feb. 4, Utah Highway Patrol troopers and St. George Police officers were dispatched to a rollover accident that occurred on southbound Interstate 15 near milepost 3, according to a statement written by UHP Trooper Grant Hintze in support of the arrest.

“A witness reported to dispatch that he saw the accident, and the occupants were trying to leave the scene,” Hintze wrote in the statement.

St. George Police officers arrived at the scene to find the two occupants of the vehicle gone.

Izack King, 20, of Cedar City, booking photo posted Feb. 4, 2015 | Image courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

The St. George Communication Center received a call a short time later that two suspicious men matching the description of the rolled vehicle’s occupants were allegedly in a nearby neighborhood knocking on a door. St. George Police officers responded to the area, located the men and detained them. One of the men was identified as Izack King, 20, of Cedar City.

The owner of the stolen vehicle, also of Cedar City, was contacted and notified that her vehicle had been involved in an accident. She was unaware the vehicle was missing from her garage.

The vehicle owner told Cedar City officers “that the subjects at the scene broke into her house and stole the vehicle,” according to the statement.

“In the stolen vehicle was the registered owner’s purse and work folder with credit cards,” the statement said.

St. George officers brought the detained subjects to the scene of the accident.

“It was obvious from their disheveled appearance they were the occupants of the wrecked vehicle,” Hintze said in the statement.

Both men were mirandized before questioning. King then admitted to stealing the car, wrecking it and using the credit cards that belonged to the registered owner of the vehicle. King stated he used one of the cards at the Wal-Mart in Bloomington and at an unspecified gas station, according to the statement. He also admitted to driving the stolen vehicle at the time of the accident at speeds of 85 to 90 mph.

The other occupant of the vehicle told officers he was in Southern Utah to visit a friend in St. George. He said he had traveled from Salt Lake City to Cedar City with a friend and was dropped off. King picked him up at the McDonald’s in Cedar City in the stolen vehicle, according to the statement.

King said there were three credit cards in his wallet belonging to the vehicle’s owner. There was also a green backpack in the stolen vehicle that was his.

King complained of pain due to the accident. He and the other man were arrested and transported by St. George Police officers to Dixie Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

After speaking with the registered owner of the vehicle, Cedar City Police officers discovered not all the credit cards in King’s possession were the vehicle owner’s; some belonged to a Cedar City business. Three of the four credit cards were found in King’s wallet. After walking around the scene of the accident, Hintze found the fourth credit card, bearing the registered owner’s name, on the ground.

Upon checking her account, the vehicle owner said the credit card King had used showed three charges — one at Wal-Mart and two at a Texaco. Cedar City Police officers who were following up on the Texaco gas station charges said the station where the charges were made was most likely in Cedar City, according to the statement.

While searching King’s green backpack, Hintze found a cellphone, papers and a ceramic pot with what appeared to be a plastic baggie inside of it pushed to the very bottom. The smell of marijuana was emanating from inside the ceramic jar.

“The opening was very narrow, and I tried multiple tools to remove the plastic bag without breaking the pot,” Hintze said in the statement. “I could not remove the baggie, I broke the ceramic pot to get to the bag. I found the baggie was empty, but smelled of marijuana.”

King was asked about the ceramic pot and asked if he had smoked marijuana recently.

“Izack (King) replied he had not,” Hintze said in the statement.

King and the other man were medically cleared from the hospital and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. The other man was later released from custody and has not been charged in connection with the incident at the time of this publication, according to information from the Washington County Attorney’s Office. The investigation into that man’s involvement in the incident is ongoing.

King was charged with one second-degree felony count of theft by receiving a stolen vehicle; four third-degree felonies for unlawful acquisition, possession or transfer of a finance card; one class A misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident; one class B misdemeanor for unlawful use of a financial transaction card; one class C misdemeanor for driving on an expired license; and one class C misdemeanor for failure to stay in one lane.

King is still in custody at Purgatory Correctional Facility at the time of this publication, according to current bookings information. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

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

St. George News Assistant Editor Cami Cox Jim contributed to this report.

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The post Man nabbed after rolling stolen vehicle on I-15, fleeing on foot appeared first on St George News.

BEAVER COUNTY — Southbound traffic along Interstate 15 near Exit 112, the south exit into Beaver, was halted Tuesday afternoon while crews cleared up a collision between a motor home and a Toyota Camry (see ed. note).

A collision between a Toyota Camry and a motor home, Beaver, Utah, Feb. 10, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

At approximately 4:19 p.m., an elderly woman driving a Camry was merging into southbound traffic on I-15 when she collided with a motor home that was passing the on-ramp, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Travis Mcilnay said.

The impact of the collision pushed the Camry sideways. The car hit into the bridge near the median and ended up facing northbound within the southbound traffic, Mcilnay said.

No injuries were reported as a result of the accident, and both parties refused medical attention. The Camry sustained front-end damage, while dark marks were the only visible damage to the motor home.

A collision between a Toyota Camry and a motor home, Beaver, Utah, Feb. 10, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol, St. George News

Southbound lanes were shut down for 30 minutes while the incident was cleared up, Mcilnay said. The woman in the Camry was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic.

Beaver County Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Beaver County Sheriff’s Office and the Utah Highway Patrol attended to the accident scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Ed. note: The Camry was previously identified as a Corolla.

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The post Motor home, Camry collision shuts down I-15 southbound lanes appeared first on St George News.