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Posted By Travis Uresk| May 13 2022 | School Teacher Murdered Fontella Galloway, a 65-year-old retired Roosevelt school teacher and former Vernal resident was the victim of criminal assault and murder last week in her home. She was found dead in the bedroom of her home Thursday at noon with her hands and feet tied to the bed. A medical examination indicated that she had been tied to the bed, gagged and raped, and that she had been dead dead for more than 24 hours at the time she was discovered by a 14-year-old boy youth, Lynn Casto of Roosevelt. Suffocation was the cause of death, according to an autopsy. The Casto youth went to the Galloway home to cut the lawn as he did regularly, when no one responded to his knock, he become curious about Miss Galloway’s absence. He noticed a screen lying on the ground and a window open about 12 inches. He looked into the room, saw the victim and reported it to his parents who notified the police. A group of 30 to 40 officers from among over 150 officers who were attending a Utah Peace Officers conference on crime three blocks away rushed to the Galloway home, and several helped in the investigation of the crime. The investigation was led by Sheriff George Merrett, Duchesne County and David Roberts, Roosevelt chief of police. A mobile crime laboratory from Salt Lake City arrived about 3 p.m. to fingerprint and collect evidence for analysis. The body was taken to the University Hospital in Salt Lake City where an autopsy was made Friday determining the cause of death. The autopsy report indicated that Galloway had died sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday morning of last week. Her mouth had been cut or scratched and her throat was red, indicating something had been stuffed in her mouth, probably to smother her Sheriff Merrett indicated. The victim’s body was partially clothed. After initial investigation, no bruises or other of a beating and apparently no body surface wounds were found. A number of items found at the scene were sent to the FBI laboratories in Washington for analysis. The Duchesne Sheriff’s office is checking out leads but at present has found “no definite suspects”. Source: Uintah Basin Standard 1969

| by Travis Uresk | July 17th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/12/26)—Emergency Medical Technicians and Uintah County Deputies responded to a report from a hotel employee who discovered a naked woman in the bathroom. The woman was unresponsive and barely conscious, lying on the floor. Emergency personnel and law enforcement arrived to assess the situation. An EMT handed Deputy Alarid the woman's purse and pants, which contained identification for 37-year-old Iris Charae Cuch. Upon checking her information, police discovered three active warrants for her arrest. As they handled her pants, a multi-colored glass pipe fell to the ground and shattered. A closer look at the broken pieces revealed that some marijuana was still attached to the broken glass. In one of the pockets, deputies found a clear bag containing more marijuana. After being evaluated by EMTs, Deputy Alarid informed Iris that she was under arrest for active warrants. She was handcuffed and transported to the Uintah County Jail. Iris faced charges for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, alongside being processed for her outstanding warrants. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 17th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/10/26)—Officer Maughan received a report of harassment through electronic communication involving two individuals. The recipient indicated that 25-year-old had been repeatedly calling them despite requests that he stop. The individual provided the officer with a call log, revealing that the female had missed numerous calls from Isaac before asking him to cease all contact. Officer Maughan observed that Isaac made 154 calls and sent several text messages, all of which went unanswered over approximately 4.5 hours. The following day, Officer Maughan was informed that Isaac continued to reach out to the female's family to inquire about her well-being. The officer managed to speak with Isaac, who admitted to calling the victim multiple times. He claimed that the female had instructed him to stop reaching out, which he disregarded in an attempt to spend time with her. Based on the evidence, the officer established probable cause to arrest Isaac for harassment via electronic communication with an enhancement for domestic violence. Isaac was placed in handcuffs and transported to the Uintah County Jail for processing on the charges. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 16th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/13/26)—Vernal City Police received a call about property damage/traffic accident in the Smith’s Food & Drug parking lot. A female had backed into a truck while trying to leave. Officers arrived where the female was parked in the dirt lot next to Smith's. The 21-year-old female, Dallie Faye Hislop, was sitting in the driver's seat. Dallie explained she was backing up her car, not realizing she was in reverse. Dallie was asked to exit her vehicle, and when she did, the officer noticed she had poor balance and almost tripped a few times. She explained to the officer what happened, saying the distance between where she said she was backing up and where she collided with another vehicle was estimated at approximately 10 to 15 yards. Dallie admitted to taking Xanax, explaining that she took it at approximately 10:00 this morning. During this time, she exhibited upper-body sway and consented to the Field Sobriety Test. Officer McCurdy determined that there was probable cause that Dallie was under the influence of a controlled substance to a degree that she was unsafe to operate a motor vehicle. During a positive K9 indication search / Inventory of Dallie's vehicle, a bottle of seventeen Phenobarbital pills was located. The pills were located inside a pill bottle designated for veterinary use only. Post Miranda Dallie advised the pills were allegedly Tramadol. Dallie was transported to Ashley Regional Medical Center (ARMC), where she was read the DUI admonition and consented to a blood draw. Officer McCurdy determined there was probable cause that Dallie had Schedule IV controlled substances. The officer determined there was probable cause that Dallie had drug paraphernalia Dallie was booked into Uintah County on the listed charges.

| by Travis Uresk | July 16th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/11/26)—Police responded to a report of a fight at the Maverik located at 1740 W US-40. Upon arrival, they found the victim still at the gas station, while the suspect had already left the area. Officer Maughan assessed the victim, who had several red marks on their face and a small amount of blood. The victim recounted that they had an argument with 21-year-old Brody John Bennett, which escalated when Brody physically attacked them. The victim claimed Brody punched them in the face multiple times and attempted to choke them. Noticing additional marks on the victim's neck, the officer believed they were consistent with strangulation. A witness provided video footage of the incident. Officer Maughan interviewed several witnesses who confirmed that Brody had choked the victim and that they had heard him shouting at the victim prior to the fight. Shortly thereafter, police located Brody, who initially denied the fight but later admitted to being involved, claiming he only threw punches. While speaking with Brody, the officer detected a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, and he exhibited clear signs of intoxication. Another witness, who had been with Brody throughout the incident, informed the officer that Brody had instigated the argument and was the main aggressor during the confrontation. Officer Maughan concluded there was sufficient evidence to arrest Brody, charging him with aggravated assault, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct before taking him to the Uintah County Jail. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 13th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/7/26)—At 3:30 PM, the Vernal Police responded to a report regarding 52-year-old Jesse Clark Mitchell, who was reportedly acting erratically, brandishing a knife, and had left the home. Upon arrival, the officer learned from the complainant that Jesse might have been using meth and was behaving unpredictably. The officer then began searching for him. A short time later, Officer Boren was informed that Jesse had returned to the residence, taken money from the complainant’s purse, and was shouting at her. While heading back to the residence, the officer spotted a man fitting Jesse's description at 46 S 1200 W. Jesse claimed he had been in an argument with the complainant, who wanted him to leave. He requested his rent money back so he could find a place to stay. Officer Boren took Jesse back to the residence to resolve the matter; however, knowing that Jesse may be armed, he conducted a search before placing him in the patrol vehicle. Before starting the frisk, the officer noticed an object on the ground behind Jesse. It appeared to be a cylindrical tube. When asked about it, Jesse identified it as a straw used for “tooting,” a common tool for consuming illegal drugs through the nose, specifically mentioning cocaine. Jesse was then secured in the back of the patrol vehicle. Before departing, Officer Boren requested that Jesse exit the vehicle for a more in-depth search. Upon doing so, the officer found a cigarette box under the seat. He returned it to Jesse, noting it had not been there before he entered the vehicle. Following a search of Jesse, no additional items were found. When asked if there was anything in the cigarette carton, Jesse responded affirmatively. The officer searched the carton and found a Ziploc bag hidden among the cigarettes, containing a white, crystalline substance identified as methamphetamine. Jesse was then taken back to the residence to clarify whether he had taken the money. Before speaking with the complainant, Officer Boren informed Jesse that he would be arrested for possession of methamphetamine. After consulting with the complainant, she revealed that she had given Jesse the money to encourage him to leave. A background check revealed that Jesse had three outstanding warrants from different jurisdictions. He was handcuffed and subsequently transported to the Uintah County Jail. At the jail, officers discovered tin foil at the bottom of the same cigarette pack, which contained more methamphetamine. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 13th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/8/26)—Vernal City Police responded to a call regarding a stolen rental car located at 992 W Main Street. Pro Recovery Solutions notified authorities about the Enterprise Rent-A-Car vehicle that had been reported stolen from Salem, OR. The 2026 Jeep Compass, registered in Utah, had a Utah license plate. Pro Recovery Solutions also mentioned they had reached out to the person who rented the car, a 54-year-old named Sandy Christi Armadillo. A check with the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) confirmed the rental was due to be returned on June 9, 2026. Officers found the vehicle parked at 992 West Main Street. Cpl. McCurdy spoke with Sandy, who showed her Oregon driver's license. She verified that she rented the Jeep in Salem, Oregon, on June 3, 2026, and that it was expected to be returned on June 9, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida. Now, nearly a month past the return date, Sandy had the rental vehicle in Vernal, Utah. Without notifying or obtaining consent from the rental company, Sandy intentionally failed to return the vehicle within 72 hours following the agreed return time in the rental contract. Sandy Armadillo was arrested for the theft of the rental vehicle, taken to the Uintah County Jail, and booked for the offense.

| by Travis Uresk | July 13th 2026 | Uintah County (7/10/26)—Deputy Elmer was dispatched to 143 S 7500 E to investigate a traffic accident involving a single vehicle that had gone off the road and into a ditch. On the way, the deputy learned that three individuals were involved. Two were identified as tribal members, while the third, 20-year-old Jacob Zachary Lawson, was confirmed to be non-tribal and was the driver in the incident. Upon arrival, Deputy Elmer spoke with everyone at the scene and observed that they had glossy eyes and a noticeable smell of alcohol on them. The police collected their details and checked all three individuals through the state system. It was revealed that they were all under 21 years old and that Jacob did not hold a valid driver’s license. He was confirmed as the driver when the vehicle went into the ditch. Jacob was asked to perform field sobriety tests to assess his ability to drive safely. The results indicated that he was not fit to operate a vehicle, leading to his arrest for driving under the influence. In addition, he faced charges for operating a vehicle without a license after failing to complete the driver's license application process. Jacob was taken to Uintah County Jail, where he consented to provide a breath sample for the intoxilyzer, resulting in a positive reading of 0.120 Brac. Following this, he was released into the custody of the jail staff, with no further actions taken.

| by Travis Uresk | July 13th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/9/26)—At 11:45 PM, 33-year-old Gaige McKyler Atwood called 911, reporting that he had been struck by a woman. Deputy Anderton arrived and noticed an open bottle of alcohol on the back of a pickup truck. Gaige walked around the side of the house and sat at a table in the front yard. Shortly thereafter, the woman exited the house. She informed the deputy that she and Gaige had been arguing all day. After stepping away from him, Gaige reentered the room and began shouting. Frustrated, she threw some clothes at him and exited. Gaige told Deputy Anderton that the woman had pushed him out and struck him. He alleged that she picked up candles and shoes and threw them at him. While speaking with law enforcement, Gaige acknowledged having consumed alcohol. When Deputy Anderton shone his flashlight on him, Gaige became upset and asked for the light to be turned off. The deputy explained they needed to look for any signs of injury, to which Gaige responded that he hadn’t been harmed. However, moments later, he claimed she did hit him. Deputy Anderton entered the house to examine where the altercation occurred. The woman confirmed it took place in the bedroom and described the events. She pointed out where she had been folding laundry when Gaige came in. She described how Gaige began to intimidate her, leading her to throw the clothes at him. The clothing was still on the floor. The deputy noted several candles on a side table and dresser, all appearing undisturbed, while the shoes were neatly organized in the closet. The woman stated she had not cleaned up after the incident. Deputy Anderton returned to inform Gaige that he found no evidence supporting his claims of an assault. When asked if he would fill out a statement, Gaige hesitated. He was questioned twice about whether the woman had hit him, and both times he answered no. Gaige was arrested for misuse of emergency services, intoxication, and disorderly behavior. Earlier that night, law enforcement had already approached Gaige regarding complaints about his fireworks activity, which he continued to ignore. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 11th 2026 | Maeser, Utah (7/8/26)—At 4 PM, 911 received a call about a disturbance at 579 N 2500 W trailer park where two men were engaged in a fight in front of one of the trailers. One of the individuals involved shared his account with Deputy Todd, explaining he was trying to fix a broken front door when 37-year-old Charles H. Elmer approached him and started yelling. Despite the man's request that Charles leave, the confrontation continued, with Charles yelling directly in his face. This escalated quickly into a physical struggle between them. The man requested that Charles leave, but he persisted in yelling. This led to a heated argument that escalated into a fight. Both men engaged in physical combat. A witness recounted that the man pushed Charles away, but Charles retaliated by pushing him back. Witnesses also reported hearing Charles express his desire to fight. According to the man, he then put Charles in a headlock, and they both fell to the ground. Charles ended up on top, striking him until bystanders intervened to separate them. Before law enforcement arrived, Charles left the scene and drove himself to the hospital. The victim had a minor red scratch on the bridge of his nose but reported pain on his right side from being struck. He also mentioned discomfort in his chest, believing it was due to being kicked. The man stated that he passed out at the end of the altercation, a detail confirmed by witnesses who performed sternum rubs to revive him. Deputy Alarid transported Charles Elmer to the Uintah County Jail, where he was booked for: Simple Assault (Domestic Violence), a class B Misdemeanor, for using unlawful force that resulted in bodily harm to the victim. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 11th 2026 | Uintah County (7/10/26)—Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Searle was patrolling on US-40 near mile marker 157 when he noticed a red Toyota Scion tailgating a truck and horse trailer. As the truck and trailer passed the trooper's driver's-side mirror, the Toyota was roughly 1 second behind the horse trailer. The trooper decided to initiate a traffic stop for following dangerously too closely. The driver, 21-year-old Angel S. Garcia Rico, provided his insurance and registration. During the discussion, Trooper Searle detected a noticeable odor of marijuana coming from the car. The trooper could see that the front passenger had a green rubber hose similar to those used in bongs. The trooper asked the passenger for her ID and learned she was a juvenile. He then asked them both if they had medical marijuana cards, to which they both replied no. The two were asked to exit the vehicle. When the juvenile got out, the trooper noticed she had a knife and a bulge in her front right pocket. She was asked to remove the contents from her pockets. She removed a lighter and two THC vape pens. The trooper searched the vehicle and discovered an open Lookah electric bong missing its green hose under the driver's seat, along with an orange cream Mary Jones THC soda, a Seed & Smith container with three pre-rolls, a container of Leiffa Hawaiian plushers THC resin, one green THC vape pen, and one pink THC vape pen. On the rear passenger seat, there was a receipt from Rocky Mountain Cannabis listing Rico as the customer and showing purchases he made. All items matched those listed on the receipt, except for a berry lemonade Mary Jones THC soda. In the front passenger seat area, there was the missing green rubber hose for the bong, and a pink purse on the floorboard. Inside the purse, the trooper found IDs and other belongings of the juvenile, as well as a container with one THC pre-roll, one THC vape pen, one empty purple THC pre-roll container, and one Mary Jones Berry Lemonade THC soda. This soda matched the missing item from Rico's receipt. Rico was read his Miranda rights, and when asked about the marijuana products, he claimed ownership. However, he denied knowledge of the items found in the juvenile's purse and expressed uncertainty about the berry lemonade soda. Trooper Searle contacted the juvenile's parents, who requested that he not question her any further. Rico was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and child endangerment. During a search of his person, another THC vape pen was found in his front left pocket. Trooper Ryan transported Rico to the Uintah County Jail, where he was booked at 6:11 PM.

| by Travis Uresk | July 8th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/5/26)—At approximately 5:30 PM, TSA agents confiscated contraband during a security check at the Vernal Airport. A woman assaulted two TSA agents during the incident. Following the altercation, she grabbed a bag from the screening table and fled the airport heading west. Deputy Oldham was sent to the airport in response to the contraband seizure. The items involved included marijuana products and related paraphernalia, and the suspect was identified as 35-year-old Stephanie Michelle Dossett. Various agencies assisted in locating Dossett, who was soon found hiding in the airport parking lot. Sgt. Watkins read Dossett her Miranda rights and interviewed her. She claimed she was trying to get home to Arizona but panicked and ran from the airport. Initially, she denied assaulting anyone but later confessed to pushing one of the TSA agents to escape. During the security check, Dossett's suitcase was flagged because a butane torch was visible on the X-ray image. When TSA agents opened the suitcase, they found various marijuana paraphernalia, a waxy substance consistent with marijuana concentrate known as "dab," and several unidentified pills. The pills were identified as Morphine, Adderall, and Xanax. Dossett also mentioned that while she was hiding in the parking lot, she had taken two Xanax pills from a small bag she retrieved before leaving the airport. Witness accounts from TSA agents indicated that Dossett tried to claim the suitcase was not hers and that the items inside belonged to her boyfriend. She questioned why the items brought from Arizona were a problem now. She was taken to a local hospital for medical clearance. While there, she was asked about the morphine and Xanax pills found in her suitcase. She revealed that she had recently had surgery and used those medications for pain relief. When asked if they were in a prescribed bottle with her name on it, she said they were not. When pressed on whether she had a valid prescription, Dossett admitted to traveling to Mexico to obtain the medications and bringing them back into Arizona. A search of Dossett’s belongings at the Uintah County Sheriff's Office revealed a small container in a side pocket of one suitcase, which held a clear, crystalline substance identified as methamphetamine. A pink and blue container found in her large purse-style bag also contained a similar crystalline substance, consistent with methamphetamine. These items were collected as evidence. Stephanie Michelle Dossett was subsequently transported to and booked into the Uintah County Jail, facing charges of: Assault on a Peace Officer (two counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance Synthetic Narcotic (two counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, Obstruction of Justice, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The possession charges were elevated due to previous convictions within the last seven years. Traffic and Criminal Report