Posted by Travis Uresk | Feb. 13th, 2023 | Drugs |
By Travis Uresk
2/13/23
Bluebell, Ut.- On 02/05/23 at around 11:00 am, Sgt Nichols received a call from dispatch for a welfare check located at 7480 W Bluebell Road. Dispatch advised the complainant reported seeing a white Toyota Corolla parked on the side of the roadway with a male subject inside.
In the window a white note was posted on the window. The complainant honked his horn at the person, who moved only slightly. The complainant did not approach further but contacted dispatch and asked that police conduct a welfare check.
When Sgt Nichols arrived, he saw a white 2021 Toyota Corolla with a California plate. The vehicle appeared to be new and in good condition, except for the front bumper, which was partially detached, causing Sgt Nichols to suspect it was recently damaged.
Sgt Nichols saw a note in the window facing inside the vehicle, so he could not read it at the time. The vehicle's engine was running with a single male subject lying in a reclined position in the driver's seat.
Sgt Nichols attempted to contact the driver by tapping on the window repeatedly, but he was unresponsive. He appeared to move slightly, but his slow and sluggish movements still would not respond. Concerned for his safety, Sgt Nichols opened the door and shook the man’s left knee, but he still would not respond.
Finally, he began to move but wasn't responding until finally. He popped up unexpectedly as if he was startled. Sgt Nichols couldn’t smell alcohol but immediately began to suspect drug use due to how difficult it was to wake him up and that he was now very active with twitchy movements.
Sgt Nichols explained the reason for contacting him, to which he responded that he was fine.
Sgt Nichols asked the man who the vehicle belonged to, to which he told me he didn't know. He initially identified himself as Richard Watson, DOB 09/22/88, but then changed the DOB to 09/22/78, and finally 09/22/76, and claimed his driver's license was out of Louisiana.
Sgt Nichols attempted to run his information through Utah and Louisiana, but both returned not on file. Richard was insistent that was who he was. While Sgt Nichols attempted to identify him, Richard said he wanted to smoke. The Sgt told him that was fine, assuming the vehicle's owner wouldn't mind.
Richard stepped out and smoked on his own, and as he did, Sgt Nichols could see his movements and behavior more clearly, that he was twitchy, his mouth dry as he smacked his lips. He, at one point, asked if the Sgt had any water.
Unable to confirm his identity through dispatch or UCJIS, Sgt Nichols asked if he had any identification on his person, to which he said he did not. Richard was asked if he could be checked for his ID, to which he consented.
Sgt Nichols began to pat him down and found in the left pocket of a fleece zip-up windbreaker, under his outer coat, a glass pipe with a white and black burnt residue inside, in his experience, is consistent with methamphetamine.
Richard denied the pipe being his, stating his clothing was also not his.
Richard was unable to identify who owned the windbreaker or the vehicle. Based on the above information, Sgt Nichols had reason to believe Richard was under the influence of methamphetamine or had recently had methamphetamine and informed him he was going to search the vehicle.
A vehicle search was conducted, and a purple Crown Royal bag was under the driver's seat. Upon looking at the contents, Sgt Nichols observed a plastic baggie of a white crystal-like substance of a moderate quantity that was consistent with methamphetamine. There was also a small baggie of two orange pills with the markings B 974/30, identified as methamphetamine/dextroamphetamine, a small baggie containing a large number of blue pills with the markings M/30, identified as oxycodone/hydrochloride, a small baggie with a single square, commonly referred to as "blotter paper," which is commonly used for LSD or other liquid form drugs.
Searching the rest of the vehicle, a digital scale, a baggie with a grainy white residence, and two butane lighters were also found.
Sgt Nichols couldn’t find identifying information or insurance proof in the vehicle.
Richard was placed under arrest and transported to the Duchesne County Jail.
Once there, Richard finally gave his true identity as Richard W. Turner, DOB 09/20/75. Richard also informed Sgt Nichols he was on Federal Probation. Upon running his correct information through dispatch, he found he had an active warrant for his arrest by the United States Marshall Service.
Sgt Nichols also found Richard had a revoked driver's license out of Wisconsin.
Based on the amount of drugs in his possession, the suspected amount is significantly more than what someone would have in their possession for personal use only.
The window's note stated, "Going to hit the hotels for some customers 4 us." The note indicated they were Richard's friends but could not wake him.
Sgt Nichols saw a message flash up on Richard’s phone from someone asking, "You got any b?" which he suspected might be about a controlled substance.
Richard Turner was charged with one count of distribution of controlled substances, schedule I and II substances, a 2nd-degree felony, possession of paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor, false personal information to police, a class C misdemeanor, revoked driver's license, a class C misdemeanor, and no proof of insurance, an infraction.
Sgt Nichols also served Richard with the US Marshall warrant, which has no bail.
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