| by Travis Uresk | July 8th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/3/26)—Deputies were alerted to an attempted assault reported on or about July 1, 2026. The victim, an elderly woman, claimed that 64-year-old Wade Alan Simonton threw a wooden stake at her, narrowly missing her head. She described Wade as becoming enraged and intentionally throwing the stake in her direction. Sgt. Leishman collected the wooden stake, which was roughly three feet long with a pointed end, and noted that it could cause serious injury when used in that manner. On 7/3/26, Deputy McDavid responded to the same location after the complainant reported that she was attempting to remove Wade Simonton from her property because he was not permitted there. When she asked him to leave, he reportedly yelled at her and made an obscene gesture. Upon arrival, Deputies McDavid and Leishman found Wade on the east side of the residence, underneath the carport. According to Sergeant Leishman, the complainant indicated that Wade was prohibited from being on the property and, while present, was holding a shovel and shouting at her. A neighbor also became aware of the situation due to the yelling. The woman explained to the officers that Wade had a distinct expression when he was angry, which she recognized. She said she quickly returned inside and shut the door to escape before he became violent. After she closed the door, Wade threw the shovel and then raised it as if he intended to strike her with it. Wade was escorted to the front of the residence and placed in handcuffs. A search was conducted following his arrest before he was placed in the patrol vehicle. During the search, a blue straw was found protruding from his front left pocket. When questioned about it, he claimed he did not know what it was. The end of the straw was attached to a glass pipe with black burn marks and a white substance inside the bulb. Wade asserted that he was unaware of what was in his pockets. No other significant items were discovered on him. He was then transported to the Uintah County Jail. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 7th 2026 | Duchesne County (7/1/26)—Deputies responded to a theft report occurring 5 miles west of Roosevelt on Crooked Sky Lane. The report indicated someone had been stealing fuel from equipment, and tanks at a job site. Approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel were reported missing. The complainant noted footprints in the construction area leading to a residence at 4900 W. Police followed the footprints to the residence and knocked on the camper door, which was opened by 41-year-old Gabriel Mark Fresquez Stone. When questioned about the missing fuel, Gabriel denied taking it and pointed out his fuel cans, which included two yellow gas cans, one of which was missing its nozzle. Upon inspection, one can contained a small amount of dirty, red-dyed diesel fuel. Gabriel informed deputies that he was on parole and was checked in by his agent, Agent Reynolds. Agent Reynolds, along with S. Hernandez, arrived to conduct a compliance check. During this inspection, Agent Reynolds discovered four knives in sheathes within the camper's living area. Gabriel informed the agents of a needle in the bathroom that appeared to have blood in it. As a Category 1 restricted individual due to parole, he was arrested, handcuffed, and placed in a patrol vehicle. While searching one of the vehicles, Agent Hernandez found a bag that contained four pills and a makeshift tooter straw fashioned from an ink pen, which had residue inside. Gabriel claimed the pills belonged to his girlfriend's mother. The bag contained four pills: two blue marked ALV 196, and two white marked EP 194. These were identified as Percocet (Oxycodone and Acetaminophen), a schedule II controlled substance, and the others tested as Lorazepam. Officers spoke with his girlfriend, 26-year-old Brittney Nicole Bailey, regarding the medications. She claimed they were hers, stating she obtained some from her mother and others from a coworker. Brittney was arrested, handcuffed, and placed in a patrol vehicle. She admitted to using the tooter straw for fentanyl a few days prior. She is facing charges for possession of a controlled substance, Schedule 2- Misdemeanor A, related to the Percocet found in the vehicle she shares with Gabriel. Additionally, she faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, Misdemeanor B, due to the tooter straw. Gabriel is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted individual because of the four knives found in the living area of the camper, three of which measured approximately 9-10 inches in length. Traffic and Criminal Reports

| by Travis Uresk | July 5th 2026 | Uintah County (7/3/26)—A Utah Highway Patrol Trooper was on US-40 in Uintah County when he noticed a pickup heading East at 76 MPH. The vehicle had slowed down significantly before approaching him. The trooper initiated a traffic stop and approached the vehicle from the passenger side, noticing numerous spider web cracks on the windshield. When asked for his driver's license, the driver admitted he did not have one. He presented the trooper with a voter card from Mexico, identifying himself as 32-year-old Luis Alberto Escareno Carrillo. A check of records indicated that Luis had a skeleton file identification from Utah. It also revealed four active warrants statewide, all related to speeding offenses and the lack of a valid driver's license. Luis was arrested on these warrants. Given that he had four separate warrants across different counties, the charge for not having a valid license would elevate to a Class B Misdemeanor. During processing at the Uintah County Jail, a jailer discovered a package of THC gummies in the front coin pocket of Luis's pants. The package, labeled "Kush Kube" and featuring a marijuana leaf, indicated a net weight of 10 grams of THC.

| by Travis Uresk | July 5th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/1/26)—Cpl. Nielsen responded to the Rec Center after receiving reports about 43-year-old Jamie Scott Slaugh attempted to attack a woman by swinging a PVC pipe at her. The woman described seeing Jamie walking south on Vernal Avenue, dressed in a gray shirt with blue sleeves and jeans, and appeared to be intoxicated. As the officer made his way to the scene, dispatch provided a driver's license photo of Jamie. Upon reaching the area of 1100 South and Vernal Avenue, Cpl. Nielsen spotted Jamie walking south. He exited his patrol vehicle and instructed Jamie to stop, but he ignored him. The Corporal jogged after him, placing his hand on Jamie’s arm and identifying himself as police. Jamie attempted to pull away and turn toward the officer. To prevent him from turning again, Cpl. Nielsen placed his leg against Jamie. During this struggle, Jamie kicked the inside of the officer's right leg. An assisting officer arrived, took hold of one of Jamie's arms, and they were able to secure him in handcuffs. Cpl. Nielsen and the other officer escorted Jamie to a patrol truck, where he was secured. While being handcuffed, a strong smell of alcohol was noted. Cpl. Nielsen then spoke with the female witness, who explained she had seen Jamie walking toward his home. She asked her husband to stop and see if Jamie needed a ride. When they approached, Jamie pulled a PVC pipe from behind his back and swung it at her head. She mentioned that if she hadn't leaned back, she would have been hit in the head. Jamie then attempted to punch her in the face but missed. This was not James's first interaction with law enforcement; he had been involved in several incidents over the past week, becoming increasingly aggressive, even mentioning having a knife. He was charged with Assault for trying to cause bodily harm by swinging the pipe, narrowly missing the woman due to her movement. Jamie Slaugh was booked into Uintah County Jail on charges of Domestic Violence Assault, Assault on a Peace Officer, Failure to Stop at the Command of a Peace Officer, Interference with a Peace Officer, and Intoxication. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 5th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/3/26)—An officer on patrol along 100 N near 200 E heard an engine revving repeatedly. He then spotted a red Challenger turning north onto 200 E, spinning its tires and accelerating rapidly, briefly losing sight of the vehicle as it sped away. Officer Silcox located the Challenger again on 250 North, heading east on a dead-end road, and began moving toward it as he could hear the engine revving and the car accelerating. Officer Silcox observed the vehicle traveling at 44 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. He initiated a stop, approached the driver’s side window, and detected the smell of alcohol. He requested the driver’s license, identifying him as 26-year-old Hector Mario Ruvalcaba III. Hector was asked to perform Standard Field Sobriety Tests but did not pass. Throughout the encounter, Hector was consistently confrontational with Officer Silcox. Three callers had reported him for reckless driving. One noted hearing the car speed past their home, another claimed the Challenger nearly struck his child, and a third mentioned being near the library when the vehicle revved its engine, cut them off, and the driver exited while displaying a firearm. After his arrest, Hector told Officer Silcox that he had noticed police behind him and was attempting to evade them by taking back roads towards the Microtel. Hector Ruvalcaba III was taken to Uintah County Jail and booked for driving under the influence, marking his first offense in ten years.

| by Travis Uresk | July 5th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (7/1/26)—Agents with AP&P looked into a possible failure-to-register incident concerning 27-year-old Clarence Arthur Williams. A search through Offender Watch indicated his registered residence as 204 E 100 N, Vernal, Utah, effective May 5, 2026. This location is near the park adjacent to the Uintah County Library. Williams is currently monitored via GPS due to his homeless status. A review of his GPS data following his monitoring placement on June 23, 2026, revealed the following overnight activities: On June 23, 2026, GPS data indicated Williams was at an apartment complex at 600 S 200 E in Vernal from 10 PM until June 24, 2026, at 12 PM. He then left the complex and traveled to Dinosaur, Colorado, arriving around 12:40 PM. This travel violation was reported to his parole agent. Clarence Arthur Williams On June 24, 2026, Williams reached a residence in Naples, Utah, at 9:28 PM. Between 11:30 PM and midnight, GPS data showed he entered Vernal before returning to the Naples location. He left that site at about 9:14 AM on June 25, 2026. On June 26, 2026, Williams returned to the 600 S 200 E apartment complex at 1:48 AM and remained until 2:43 PM. Later, on June 26, at 9:25 PM, he returned to the same complex and remained there until June 27, 2026, at 10:30 AM. On June 27, 2026, Williams returned to that apartment complex at 5:38 PM and remained until June 28, 2026, at 2:02 PM. On June 29, 2026, he was at the 600 S 200 E complex from 12:30 AM until June 30, 2026, at 5:50 PM. He then traveled to Dinosaur, Colorado, arriving at approximately 6:37 PM, then returned to Utah at 7:10 PM. This incident was also reported to his parole agent. On June 30, 2026, Williams returned to the 600 S 200 E complex at 11:20 PM and remained until July 1, 2026, at 7:45 AM. Since June 23, 2026, Clarence Williams has not returned to his reported address at 204 E 100 N, Vernal, Utah. According to the registration rules, he is required to inform Adult Probation and Parole of this change within 3 business days. Consequently, he was required to report this by the end of business on June 29, 2026. Given Williams' failure to update the Sex Offender Registry, AP&P has determined there is sufficient reason to arrest him for failure to register as a Sex Offender. Williams is already on probation for two counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a 16- 17-year-old (Class A Misdemeanor). This new charge will also be classified as a Class A Misdemeanor. This is the second instance of Williams failing to register while under the watch of Adult Probation and Parole. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 2nd 2026 | Jensen, Utah (6/22/26)—Deputy Fairey noticed a green Chevrolet SUV on South Redwash Road and checked the vehicle's registration. The results revealed that the registration had been canceled and there was no insurance. The deputy pulled over the SUV near 6450 South Redwash Road in Jensen. After stopping the vehicle, Deputy Fairey informed the male driver of the reasons for the stop. The driver identified himself as 71-year-old Roy J. Hansen, whom the deputy recognized from prior encounters. Roy claimed he believed his vehicle's registration was valid but acknowledged he did not have insurance. Dispatch performed a check on Roy's personal information, revealing that his driver's license had been revoked due to an alcohol offense. The record also showed that Roy was restricted from alcohol and required to have an ignition interlock device. Furthermore, dispatch reported an active arrest warrant for Roy Hansen issued by the Vernal 8th District Court. The warrant was issued with no bail for alcohol-related and driving offenses. The record also noted that any vehicle Roy operated during the sanction period was subject to mandatory impoundment. When Deputy Fairey informed Roy about his driver's license status, he realized he was in a difficult situation. Roy mentioned previous DUI convictions, the latest occurring the year prior. He noted he was required to undergo weekly alcohol testing but had not complied due to travel issues, and he disagreed with the requirement. The deputy noticed the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle while speaking with Roy. When questioned about the odor, Roy said he had been drinking the day before. He was then asked if there were any open containers or concerning items in the vehicle. Roy mentioned there was an empty container but did not specify its location. Given the active arrest warrant, Roy was taken into custody. Following his arrest, deputies conducted an inventory of the vehicle. During this process, an assisting deputy discovered a large bottle of vodka hidden under a blanket on the floorboard behind the front passenger seat. The bottle was roughly one-third full of clear liquid. Roy Hansen was taken to the Uintah County Jail and booked on the warrant along with the additional charges. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 1st 2026 | Duchesne County (6/27/26)—At around 3:30 PM, Deputy Borrelli was driving eastbound on SR-35 when a vehicle driving westbound at a dangerously slow speed passed by. The driver wasn't wearing his seatbelt properly, and the license plate was not clearly visible. Deputy Borrelli turned around, and the vehicle accelerated quickly. He activated his lights and initiated a stop near milepost 58. The driver, 71-year-old Kirk Allan Schocker, was identified using his state ID. A records check revealed that Kirk's license was suspended, and the vehicle was neither insured nor registered. Kirk was informed that the vehicle would be impounded and was asked to exit. While he was retrieving his belongings, the deputy noticed an open pack of cigarettes with a plastic baggie partially sticking out. Once Kirk was outside the vehicle, he opened a different pack of cigarettes and took one to smoke. The deputy inquired about the contents of the baggie, to which Kirk replied that it contained meth and handed it over. Kirk was arrested, and during a vehicle inventory, a small plastic bag labeled OXY 5MM was found in the center cup holder, containing a powdered substance. A glass tube nearby also held a powdered substance, which tested positive for oxycodone, for which he did not have a prescription. The vehicle was impounded, and Kirk was transported to the Duchesne County Jail. While en route, Deputy Borrelli requested a background check and discovered Kirk had over four prior convictions for possession of controlled substances. Kirk was booked into the Duchesne County Jail for possession of controlled substance I/II, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of prescription drug for unlawful purposes, driving on a suspended license, operating a vehicle without insurance, failure to register the vehicle, and failure to wear a seatbelt. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | July 1st 2026 | Vernal, Utah (6/26/26)—Vernal Police responded to the Velocity Car Wash at 1607 West US 40 following reports of a reckless driver. The complainant informed officers that the driver had entered the automatic car wash and appeared to be drunk. An employee noted that the driver appeared disoriented and had difficulty speaking. The driver entered the wash, but instead of shifting into neutral as instructed, he drove through the facility and left the premises. One witness managed to obtain the vehicle's license plate, which was shared with law enforcement. While officers were gathering statements at the car wash, the vehicle was spotted traveling west on SR-40 in front of the establishment, pointed out by a witness. The truck was registered to an individual in Roosevelt, Utah. Officer Roth quickly left the parking lot to pursue the vehicle heading west on SR-40. Upon catching up, the officer confirmed the license plate matched the previous report and initiated a traffic stop at milepost 137.5. When asked if he had been at the car wash, the driver acknowledged that he had. The officer observed two juveniles inside the vehicle, whom the driver claimed were his children, and said he was taking them home. When asked for his driver's license, he stated he did not have one but provided his name as 49-year-old Gregory Chauncy Checora. A records check revealed that Checora’s license had been revoked due to an alcohol offense, and he was classified as an alcohol-restricted driver, required to have an ignition interlock device that was not present in the vehicle. The vehicle was then subject to mandatory impoundment. Checora exited the car when asked. Based on witness accounts and the smell of alcohol, Officer Roth questioned him about drinking, to which Checora admitted he had. The officer requested that Checora perform field sobriety tests, and he agreed. However, during the standardized evaluations, including the HGN, Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand, he failed to pass any without showing clear signs of impairment. Checora was arrested and taken to Uintah County Jail by Cpl. Maughan, where a breathalyzer test indicated a blood alcohol content of .142. An inventory search of the vehicle revealed an open container of alcohol and a half-empty bottle of Crown Royal beside the driver’s seat. Checora faced several charges, including third-degree felony DUI due to prior offenses, two counts of DUI with a passenger under 16, operating as an alcohol-restricted driver, driving with a revoked license, failure to have an ignition interlock device, and possession of an open container. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | June 30th 2026 | Roosevelt, Utah (6/24/26)—The Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Force stopped a vehicle on Highway 40 in Roosevelt for crossing the center line several times. Agents checked the vehicle's records and found that the registered owner, 39-year-old Bailey Ryan Birchell, had a suspended driver's license due to a lack of insurance. Bailey presented her state-issued driver's license, while the front passenger offered her ID in an effort to switch places with Bailey. The passenger, identified as 35-year-old Rosemaria Jaqueline Ontiveros, had a valid license. The back seat passenger, 39-year-old Bret J. Reed, was recognized by law enforcement and was known to be on parole. Before the stop, Bret made suspicious movements in the back seat, suggesting he was trying to hide something. AP&P authorized a search based on Reed's parole status. When Bret was asked to exit the vehicle for a search, he claimed he had no belongings in the car, did not know the other occupants, and was simply getting a ride home. Agents found a small blue M30 Fentanyl pill on the floor where Bret was seated, which he denied ownership of. All three passengers were asked to step out of the vehicle and were detained in handcuffs while the car was searched. Bret faced a charge of possession of a controlled substance since the pill was located directly where he was sitting and no one claimed it. Due to three previous possession convictions and one distribution conviction in the last seven years, this charge will be elevated to a second-degree felony. Rosemaria complied with the request to leave the car but attempted to take her purse. She was instructed to leave it inside. A search of the purse uncovered tinfoil with burnt residue and a piece of a blue pill, confirmed to be Fentanyl. After being read her rights, Ontiveros admitted ownership of the Fentanyl found in her purse and stated she had consumed Fentanyl about two hours before the traffic stop. Bailey was also read her Miranda rights and agreed to talk with law enforcement. When asked about drugs in the vehicle, she admitted to having tooter straws, syringes, foil, and some marijuana. These items were found in a black bag she identified as hers, with her name written on the inside. The agents allowed Bailey to remove any drugs from her person before being taken to jail, and she disclosed having a small bag of Fentanyl pills hidden in her underwear. Bailey was taken to the UBMC for medical clearance, then transported and booked into the Duchesne County Jail on possession of Fentanyl, the pill in the bag on her person, the loose pill in the vehicle she was driving, the Marijuana in her purse, the Heroin residue on the burnt foil in her purse, and the possession of drug paraphernalia for the syringes, foil and tooter straws with drug residue. A full vehicle search uncovered additional illegal substances and drug paraphernalia. All three occupants were transported to the Duchesne County Jail. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | June 29th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (6/27/26)—A domestic altercation unfolded late Saturday night at a trailer park, leading to the arrest of 35-year-old Zachary Daniel Thomson. Reports indicate that he was intoxicated, threatening family members, and had stabbed his wife. Witnesses indicated that Zachary was armed with a knife, which he had used on his wife, and that he was still holding the weapon when officers arrived. Upon reaching the location, officers heard shouting from inside the trailer. As a shirtless Zachary exited, he approached the officers with the knife still in hand. Officer Escobedo drew his firearm, ordering Zachary to drop the knife and lie on the ground, which he complied with before being taken into custody. The knife was a fixed blade, measuring around 7 inches, and had blood on it when confiscated. Inside the residence, police discovered three victims. The wife had a deep cut on the back of her right arm, while the other two were the children of the injured woman. Officers observed apparent wounds that were reported to have been caused by Zachary. Zachary Daniel Thomson Inmate Photo from Weber County Corrections- TruthFinder.com A family member disclosed that Zachary had been drinking since approximately 2 PM that day, leading up to the incident around 11 PM. During a confrontation with his wife, she reportedly defended herself by striking him in the back of the head with an empty liquor bottle. Zachary had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person, and he was bleeding profusely from his head. He repeated multiple times throughout the evening, after being arrested, that he was drunk and that he was always the "villain" in these circumstances. Zachary also displayed mood swings, which consisted of laughing and acting jovial, then becoming depressed and crying. These mood swings appeared consistent with a high level of intoxication. Zachary stated under his own volition that he was a felon and knew that he was not allowed to possess the knife or stab his wife. He also stated he and his wife had been arguing, which resulted in him unsheathing his knife and using it to communicate to his wife, "don't fuck with me." According to Zachary, he consumed a "fifth" of liquor that day. While in custody, he underwent a Portable Breath Test, which indicated a BrAC of 0.197. Officer Escobedo determined there was probable cause to arrest and charge Zachary with several offenses as listed in this affidavit of probable cause. The knife which was used in the crime was immediately found and is now in evidence. Zachary also mentioned having a possible schizophrenic disorder, which may have been exacerbated by his alcohol intake. Given the circumstances, he is considered a danger to others. Zachary also made statements that he has some sort of schizophrenic disorder, the effects of which may have been compounded due to his significant consumption of alcohol. Based on the events, Zachary is a danger to others. Traffic and Criminal Report

| by Travis Uresk | June 27th 2026 | Vernal, Utah (6/24/26)—At 11 PM, Deputy Ledbetter was stopped at a stop sign at 1500 S and 1500 W. A red passenger car traveling westbound drove through the intersection, ignoring the stop sign. The deputy activated his emergency lights and got behind the vehicle. As the deputy got closer to the car, it swerved to the right shoulder of the road, then back to the middle line before pulling off to the side and stopping. Sitting in the driver's seat, the deputy observed a white male identified as 56-year-old Charles Wayne McConkie. Deputy Ledbetter asked Charles how he was doing tonight, and he blankly stared at the deputy, but didn't respond. The driver was asked why he didn't stop at the stop sign, and he replied that he was aware he had run it. While Charles was speaking, the deputy could smell the odor of alcohol coming from his breath. Charles was asked if he had his driver's license with him. He reached for his wallet in his back pocket, and while looking for his license, he dropped it into his lap. Charles told Deputy Ledbetter he wanted to be honest with him, and said that he had been drinking, believed he was over the legal limit, and handed his driver's license to the deputy. Charles was asked to exit the vehicle. As Charles exited, he was asked if he would be willing to complete Field Sobriety Tests, to which he responded: "It would be pointless to do them, I know that I am drunk." Charles McConkie was placed under arrest and provided a portable breath test (PBT) to determine whether he needed to be transported for a medical clearance before being transported to jail. He agreed and performed the PBT, which resulted in a .034. After a search of Charles' driver's license status, it was discovered that he was an alcohol restricted driver, and was transported to the Uintah County Jail. At the Uintah County Jail, while jail staff conducted a pat-down and medical screening, Charles asked Deputy Ledbetter if he wanted to know what was going to be in his blood. The deputy said, yes. Charles then stated that there would be both alcohol and marijuana in his system. During the DUI investigation, while under Miranda, Charles stated that he had consumed alcohol as well as smoked marijuana from approximately 8:30 PM until 15 minutes before he was pulled over. Charles' criminal history was reviewed, and it was discovered he had a prior DUI conviction in 2019 in Utah, making this his second DUI arrest in 10 years. Charles Wayne McConkie was booked into Uintah County Jail for a 2nd offense DUI in 10 years, an alcohol-restricted driver, and Right of Way-Stop or yield sign.