Two arrested for having Meth, Fentanyl pills, Fentanyl powder, and Heroin

| by Travis Uresk | February 22^nd, 2026 |

First traffic stop & arrest

On Saturday, February 14^th, 2026, Officer Kirk was on duty and patrolling in the area of 1500 W and US 40 in Vernal, Ut. A vehicle drove past him with a headlight out.

The officer turned around and caught up to the vehicle near 1800 W US 40. He turned on his emergency lights, and the vehicle came to a stop at 1980 W and US 40.

Officer Kirk identified the driver of the vehicle as 36-year-old Clinton Glade Merkley.

While speaking with Clinton, the officer could smell the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, and the female passenger was identified as 41-year-old Aimee Jo Hart.

A records check through Dispatch confirmed two active state-wide warrants for Aimee and one for Clinton. Dispatch also advised that the vehicle's insurance was returned as not found.

While the officer was speaking with Clinton, sweat beads began to appear on his forehead. Once assisting Officers arrived on scene, Aimee was removed from the vehicle, arrested on her warrants, and transported to the Uintah County Jail. Once Aimee was placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, Clinton was asked to step out.

Clinton was placed in handcuffs and escorted to the front of a patrol vehicle. He told Officer Kirk that he just sold a vehicle and there was some cash in his wallet, and “Some shit I shouldn’t have either.”

Clinton was wearing a small pouch/wallet strapped around his chest that was searched by an assisting officer while Officer Kirk searched Clinton’s person, and found Methamphetamines, Fentanyl pills, Fentanyl powder, and Heroin inside the wallet, as well as a large amount of cash. When asked about the substances found in the wallet, Clinton identified them as Heroin, fentanyl, powdered fentanyl, and meth.

Clinton was then transported to the Uintah County Jail, while an assisting officer remained on scene to perform a vehicle inventory search before the vehicle was impounded for no insurance. A large amount of drug paraphernalia was found inside the vehicle, including tooter-style pipes, syringes, tin foil with burn marks and residue, a spoon with residue, a scale, baggies, and a dab pen.

While booking evidence at the Vernal Police Department, a small container was found containing psilocybin mushrooms. Later, Clinton admitted that the container did have psilocybin mushrooms inside it.

Aimee was booked into the Uintah County Jail on the two state-wide warrants, Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II Analog (Methamphetamine), a Class A Misdemeanor, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class B Misdemeanor.

Clinton was booked into the Uintah County Jail on one state-wide warrant, Use or Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II Analog x 4, Class A Misdemeanors, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class B Misdemeanor.

The 2^nd, traffic stop and arrest:

On February 21^st, 2026, Sgt. Cannon conducted a records check on a Subaru Outback, and the insurance status returned as "not found."

The officer watched the vehicle pull into the parking lot on 500 W 100 N. Clinton exited his vehicle, but eventually returned and drove out of the parking lot onto 500 W. The driver of the vehicle made a traffic violation, and the officer initiated a traffic stop at 575 W Main St.

While approaching the vehicle, Sgt. Cannon noticed it had both a temporary tag and a physical license plate. He approached the driver’s side window and spoke with Clinton Glade Merkley. He provided the officer with his driver's license and proof of insurance. It was learned that the physical license plate belonged to the previous owner and that the temporary tag was for the new registration. The front passenger was also identified as Aimee Jo Hart.

Sgt. Cannon requested Sgt. Watkins with the UCSO to respond with his state-certified K9 to run around the outside of Clinton's vehicle.

Sgt Watkins arrived and ran his K9 around the vehicle. He informed Sgt. Cannon that his K9 indicated the presence of illegal narcotics. Clinton was asked to exit his vehicle while other officers had Aimee exit the passenger side.

Clinton told police that there wouldn’t be any illegal drugs in his car. While searching Clinton's pockets, police found a plastic pen. The pen was melted in the center and appeared to contain suspected heroin residue. He admitted he had used the pen to ingest opiates.

Sgt. Watkins spoke with Aimee, and she stated that the drug paraphernalia that had been found was all hers. She was asked about the marijuana, and she stated she doesn’t use it, but knew it was in her property.

Aimee was placed under arrest and transported to the Uintah County Jail. Aimee was booked into jail for two counts of Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Clinton was placed under arrest and transported to the Uintah County Jail, where he was booked in for Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.