Two people arrested for being in a stolen vehicle and trying to conceal fentanyl
| by Travis Uresk | March 28th, 2026 |
Ballard, Utah—On 3/27/26, while Deputy Fairey was on patrol in the Ballard area, a vehicle was showing suspicious behavior.
The vehicle pulled to the shoulder of the road behind the deputy's patrol vehicle, turned its signal on for a long period of time as if they were going to pull into traffic, then backed up 200 feet before entering the Jiffy Lube parking lot, and turned off the headlights.
Deputy Fairey ran the plates, and dispatch confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the day from Ft Duchesne.
The deputy walked up to the vehicle and identified two subjects inside. The first was 33-year-old Grant Hurbert Checora, and the second was 21-year-old Colett Lanayly Checora.
Colett, the driver of the vehicle, stated that the car may have been experiencing mechanical issues. She admitted she didn't have a driver's license and told the deputy she was only driving to take the passengers to their motel.
Grant voluntarily provided identification, but was showing erratic behavior in the back seat. He claimed the vehicle belonged to a family member when asked where they got the car.
Backup officers arrived, including a K9 officer with the RPD, whose K9 later indicated illegal substances inside the vehicle.
Police searched the vehicle and located multiple items of drug paraphernalia. A tooter pipe containing a light brown residue consistent with fentanyl was found near the middle console on the floor between the front and passenger seats.
In the back of the vehicle, where Grant had been sitting, the police found a round metal tin shoved under the front passenger seat. The tin was found to contain baggies with a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine. Additionally, an electronic cigarette marked "THC" was also found where Grant was sitting.
At this time, Colett was speaking with a BIA officer and informed the officer that she had items concealed in her underwear. That she claimed one of the males had given her during the traffic stop. Colett handed the officer three plastic tooter pipes, all of them containing a white powder residue consistent with fentanyl or meth. She indicated there might be more items concealed.
Grant denied ownership of the illegal items found in the vehicle, suggesting they may have belonged to previous owners. However, during interviews with the other vehicle occupants, the metal tin was identified as Grant's property and in his possession before the traffic stop. The occupants also reported that Grant had asked them to conceal items.
Colett confirmed that during the traffic stop, the rear seat passenger had given her items to conceal in her underwear. She identified this person as a family member and indicated a possible fear of him. An assisting deputy familiar with Colett informed Deputy Fairey of her recent interactions regarding possession of drug paraphernalia and confirmed seeing the vehicle at one of the male occupant's residences the previous evening.
Following Colett's arrest and transport to jail, a female corrections officer conducted a strip search that recovered a blue pill and a plastic piece from her underwear; the pill was recognized as fentanyl.
A review of Colett's history revealed pending court cases in multiple jurisdictions for possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia.
The BIA officer informed Deputy Fairey that Grant was a suspect in the vehicle theft reported earlier that day. A check of Grant's criminal history revealed multiple recent misdemeanor convictions for possession of dangerous drugs.
All evidence items, including the pipes, a metal tin with baggies, and a THC vape, were booked into evidence at the sheriff's office and submitted for testing to confirm the presence of illegal substances.
Based on the evidence discovered during the investigation, Grant and Colett were arrested and taken to the Uintah County Jail.
Criminal and Traffic Record
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