A homeowner allows young adults to use his Pickleball court, when he returns home, he finds that they have robbed him.

| by Travis Uresk | April 15^th, 2026 |

Vernal, Utah (4/13/26)—Sgt. Cannon responded to a residential burglary, and upon arrival, the victim stated he allowed three young adult males onto his property to use his Pickleball court.

The victim stated that around 6 pm, he was at home, and the males were outside. He then left the residence, and when he returned later that evening, he found that his home had been broken into. A door in the front foyer area had been kicked in, and his property had been rummaged through.

Vernal City Officers had a previous call in which three young adult males were investigated, resulting in two of them being taken into custody.

On April 13^th, 2026, Officer Maughan was dispatched to a call that had been reported. There were some teenagers in a brown Ford Ranger, pointing a firearm at each other in a parking lot at 575 W and Main St.

The vehicle was observed leaving the parking lot by an officer conducting a traffic stop at approximately 200 North 500 West. One of the occupants, 18-year-old Lance Cole Brackenbury, was identified by his Utah driver's license and asked to exit the vehicle. While looking inside the vehicle, there were multiple cans of alcohol.

Another Officer performed a pat down on Lance, checking for weapons, and found a Mike's Cherry hard lemonade along with 2 nicotine vapes.

Officer Maughan requested that Lance submit to a PBT, which he refused. The officer determined there was probable cause to arrest Lance for the following offenses: illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor and possession of a tobacco product by a minor.

Lance was then placed into handcuffs and taken to the Uintah County Jail.

During this investigation, one of the males, identified as 18-year-old Lance Cole Brackenbury, was found with a black airsoft gun with an orange tip. It was discovered while speaking with the victim that a black airsoft gun with an orange tip was missing from the residence.

Officers reviewed the victim's surveillance footage and discovered that the three males that the police had investigated earlier were the same three males at the victim's residence.

In the footage, two of the three males are seen trying to gain entry to the home through the front door, but without success. Two males, one of whom the officer identified as 18-year-old Dawson Henry Kurtz, were seen attempting to enter the residence through the back door, without success.

Eventually, one of the males is seen entering the foyer. The two males, Lance and Dawson, are then seen heading to the foyer area. After some time in the residence, Dawson and Lance are observed exiting the front door of the residence.

The police went to the Uintah County Jail, where Dawson and Lance were currently incarcerated. When Dawson and Lance were arrested, they were intoxicated. While speaking to Dawson, he recalled being at the victim's residence. The officer asked him about being inside the house, and Dawson stated he didn't recall being there. Sgt Cannon informed Dawson that he had seen video footage of him and his friend entering the home. Dawson acted surprised and stated he didn't recall doing that. Dawson then requested that an attorney be present before further questioning.

When Lance was previously taken into custody, he was under the influence of alcohol. While Sgt. Cannon spoke to Lance, he asked him about the airsoft gun. Lance stated the airsoft gun was his, and he obtained it about a month ago. Lance then advised that they had found the gun somewhere. The officer confronted Lance about the gun coming from the victim's residence, and he recalled being at the victim's home. When asked if the gun came from the victim's home, Lance remained quiet. Sgt. Cannon informed Lance that he had seen him on a surveillance camera with his friends entering the home. He then acknowledged entering the residence but denied kicking the door in.

Because Lance and Dawson entered a dwelling unlawfully to commit a theft, they were booked into the Uintah County Jail for Burglary of a Dwelling and Theft.