| by Travis Uresk | June 6th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (6/1/26)—Vernal City Police responded to a disturbance call near 860 S Vernal Ave. involving a person running up and down the stairs while threatening others. Officers arrived to find multiple individuals inside a vehicle in the adjacent parking lot. A physical altercation was immediately apparent: one man exhibited significant facial swelling and bruising on the right side, a blood ring around his lips, and a shirt torn from t

| by Travis Uresk | May 13th, 2026 | Vernal, Utah (5/13/26)—Vernal City Police were informed of a burglary in progress where the victim stated that an unknown male entered his house before engaging in a physical altercation. The victim also reported that the male had exited his residence out the back door into the backyard. When Officer Maughan arrived at the residence, the burglar was found still in the backyard of the victim’s home and was identified as 20-year-old Gabriel

| by Travis Uresk | May 8th, 2026 | Vernal, Utah (5/6/26)—Officer Maughan was dispatched to Basin Sports on a reported shoplifting that had occurred on April 29th, 2026. When the officer arrived, he met with the manager, who explained what had happened. The manager told the officer that a male who was identified as 45-year-old James Burnett Swett had stolen a suppressor. Officer Maughan watched the security camera footage and, upon review, he saw a male looking at the suppres

| by Travis Uresk | May 4th, 2026 | Vernal, Utah (5/1/26)—Asset Protection Personnel at Walmart made contact with a male, identified as 37-year-old Blaine Harrison Duggins, pushing a cart with various items. Blaine was also seen with a woman later identified as 31-year-old Isabel Jean Cothrun. Efforts to locate Isabel were initially unsuccessful. Blaine stated that Isabel is his girlfriend. Officers with the Vernal City Police Department arrived on scene and spoke with Blaine

| by Travis Uresk | April 30th, 2026 | Vernal, UT (4/28/26)—Officers with the Vernal City Police Department received a report of an individual who was being attacked. The complainant advised that the involved parties were being drunk and belligerent. Officers arrived on scene and made contact with one of the involved parties, who had left the residence and was walking down the road. Officer White noticed the individual appeared to have a dark substance around his lips, which

| by Travis Uresk | April 7 th , 2026 | Vernal, Utah— On March 22 nd , 2026, Detective Webb with the VPD took a report of multiple incidents of abuse that have been occurring over the past few years, with the most recent being about a month ago. During the interview, the female made allegations of kidnapping and assault by the suspect, 34-year-old James Michael Smuin, who had slammed her head into a wall, causing a hole in the wall. The woman also stated that there are other

By Travis Uresk 5/16/24 | Vernal, Ut. | May 15th, 2024 | A Uintah County Deputy was dispatched to a report by dispatch that 40-year-old...

By Travis Uresk 5/16/24 | Vernal, Ut. | May 15th, 2024 | Deputy Pratt was working patrol in the Vernal area when he was dispatched to a...

By Travis Uresk 3/28/24 Vernal, Ut. — On March 6th, 2024, a victim was currently at the police department to report an assault that...

Posted by Travis Uresk | Dec. 20th, 2022 | Domestic Violence | By Travis Uresk 12/20/22 Vernal, Ut.- On December 12, 2022, at around 9:30...