A Deputy Locates and Arrests A Wanted Man Inside A Duchesne Gas Station

| by Travis Uresk | April 1^st, 2026 |

Duchesne, Utah—Cpl. Cox noticed a black SUV; he knew from checking the warrants list that 47-year-old Christopher Robert Prieto had warrants for his arrest involving drugs.

The SUV pulled into the parking lot at the Gateway gas station and walked into the store. Cpl. Cox also pulled into the parking lot to take Chris into custody.

While the deputy waited for Chris to walk out, he never came outside. The deputy decided to go inside the store to look for Chris, but couldn't see him. Cpl. Cox then heard the toilet flush and saw Chris emerge from the bathroom.

When Chris saw the deputy, he turned around and went back inside the restroom, but finally came out. Cpl. Cox called Chris by name, but he said that wasn't his name, then he remembered he had dealt with the deputy before. They then exited the store.

After walking outside, Chris was told by the deputy that he would be taken into custody for the warrants.

After placing Chris into handcuffs, the deputy conducted a search of his person, prior to searching Chris, Cpl. Cox asked if he had anything illegal on him. He told him that he didn't and had also claimed to be clean. The deputy then began to search his right pant pocket and immediately found drug paraphernalia, which Chris claimed he forgot about.

The deputy then took out two tooters used for inhaling illegal drugs. The tooters had a residue consistent with Fentanyl. The residue was tested by using a roadside NIK test, which showed positive for Fentanyl.

Chris admitted to using Fentanyl within the last three days, and also consented to a search of his vehicle. No illegal narcotics or drugs were found inside the vehicle.

Cpl. Cox checked the bathroom stall after Chris used it and located some used toilet paper that appeared to have a combination of fluids and possible Fentanyl.

Due to Chris having possible withdrawal from fentanyl and high blood pressure issues, the deputy took him to the Uintah Basin Medical Center for a medical clearance.

After he received a medical clearance, Chris was booked into the Duchesne County Jail for his two statewide warrants, possession of a controlled substance, fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia.