Sanpete County Sheriff's Office Booking Report

Sanpete County Sheriff's Office
160 N Main
Manti, Utah 84642
(435) 835-2191
Sheriff Kay P. Larsen
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News Release

December 28, 2005 at approximately 1330 hours Sanpete County Dispatch received a report of a 12 year male juvenile who had fallen through the ice at Nine Mile Reservoir, located south of Sterling on Hwy 89. Juvenile was walking back to shore, stepped on thin ice and fell into the lake. Juvenile pulled himself out and slid on belly to the shore where wet clothing was removed by grandfather and dry clothing placed on him and he was transported by family members to the family residence in Gunnison where attempts were made to warm him by a warm shower. At the family residence, Sheriff’s Department personnel requested that the juvenile be taken to the Gunnison Valley Hospital for treatment. The Doctor stated that juvenile was cold, and they were going to bring his core temperature to normal, then release him to family.

A warning from the Sheriff’s Department, that even though the evenings are cool, the daytime temperature is high enough to make the ice unsafe to be on.

As the Sheriff of Sanpete County I would like to inform our home owners of a crime that is being committed here in our county. There have been several home burglaries throughout our area. Being targeted are homes that have safes in them. The safes are being penetrated and money is being stolen. I am encouraging all home owners not to have more money at their residences then is absolutely necessary. Put your money in the bank. Regardless of the quality of your safe don’t rely on it to protect your money! Some of the safes that have been penetrated have been high quality safes. If you have any information about these burglaries contact the Sanpete County Sheriffs Office at 435-835-2191.

On 5-22-05 at approx. 08:45 the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. was notified of an alleged shooting at 335 N. 100 W. Manti. Sheriff’s dept. personnel responded and upon there arrival found that the victim Dirk Wilkinson had been transported to Gunnison Valley Hospital via private vehicle. The victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. The victim was later transported to the Utah Valley Hospital where he is being treated. The gunshot wound was not life threatening.

Mr. Wilkinson alleges that he was shot by an intruder in his home. The case is under investigation by the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept.

Law Enforcement to Increase Safety Belt Enforcement May 23-June 5
Wear Your Safety Belt - Save Your Money, Help Save Your Life

Sanpete County Sheriff’s Department is joining forces with the nationwide Click It or Ticket Mobilization, running from May 23 to June 5; local law enforcement officers from Sanpete County will increase enforcement of the State’s safety belt laws. Those who fail to buckle up will be issued a ticket that carries a fine of $45.00 in Sanpete County.

The goal of the effort is to boost the State’s 85.7 percent safety belt use rate and reduce fatalities, with a special emphasis on young adults. Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for every age, 3 through 33, in the United States. The past few years have shown a significant increase in safety belt use, but more must be done to sustain and grow these gains.

Safety belt use saves lives and prevents injuries. Between 1975 and 2000, safety belts prevented 135,000 fatalities and 3.8 million injuries, saving $585 billion in medical and other costs. If all vehicle occupants had used safety belts during that period, nearly 315,000 deaths and 5.2 million injuries could have been prevented – and $913 billion in costs saved.

“Because we’ve seen first hand the severe injury and death that often result from not wearing a safety belt, we will be showing zero tolerance for anyone not buckled up. Unless you want to risk a ticket – or worse, your life – remember to wear your belt,” said Sheriff Kay P. Larsen. “We want everyone on the road to remember to buckle up – every trip, every time.”

For the past several years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has helped states implement the Click It or Ticket program across the country, aiding law enforcement agencies in conducting intensive, high-publicity Click It or Ticket campaigns with increased enforcement of safety belt laws.

These Click It or Ticket efforts are an effective tool in raising safety belt use rates. In 2004, the Mobilization efforts helped to increase the national belt use rate to a record high of 80 percent. The combination of active law enforcement, coupled with paid advertising and the support of government agencies, local schools, community organizations and others, continues to be an extremely effective means for increasing safety belt use – and saving lives – across the country.

More than 12,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will conduct safety belt checkpoints and other special law enforcement activities as part of the effort.

In Sanpete County, law enforcement officers will be working several hours strictly enforcing the safety belt laws.

On 5-6-05 Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Central Utah Narcotics Task Force arrested Owen Douglas Elder for Distribution of Methamphetamines and Possession of a stolen firearm. Information received led to a search warrant being served on a storage unit at Universal Storage North of Mt. Pleasant. Several items were seized that include hand and power tools and are believed to be stolen. Four cases from throughout the county have been solved by the recovery of theses item, with more expected to come.

The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the Utah State Parks and Recreation offers the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Education Certificate Classes. These classes are aimed at youth ages 8 to 16 which operate ATV’s or off-highway motorbikes. Class certification makes your child legal to drive on public lands, trails and roads. A Class is being offered May 7 @ 8:00 A.M. in Manti at the Sanpete County fairgrounds. Please call 1-800-OHV-RIDE to sign your child up.

1-800-OHV-RIDE or www.stateparks.utah.gov

On 1-8-05 at approx 12:55 Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. was notified that a snow boarder had been caught and buried in an avalanche in Ephraim Canyon near the top. The person had on a beacon, and the party the victim was with, began searching for him. Search and rescue and EMS were deployed to the area. Sanpete Sheriff’s Dept. was later notified that the party with the victim had found him and dug him out and was doing CPR. Search and Rescue arrived on seen and life flight was called. The Victims condition is unknown at this time.

On 1-8-05 at approx 13:54 Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. was notified that a snowmobiler had been caught in an avalanche east of Mt. Pleasant in the choke cherry ridge area. Search and rescue and EMS were deployed to the area. The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. later received information that the victim had been located by the party he was with and they requested life flight. The Victims condition is unknown at this time.

Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. strongly advise that people stay out of the mountain areas until avalanche conditions improve.

After receiving an anonymous tip and following several leads the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department solved an ongoing investigation concerning Vandalism that occurred on approx. 2-7-04 at the Jason Sunderland turkey ranch south of Ft. Green, Utah. The vandalism resulted in the destruction of property and approx. 1200 turkeys. Seven suspects have been criminally charged in the incident, charges are Criminal Mischief a Second Degree Felony and Criminal Trespass a class C Misdemeanor. Three suspects were juveniles at the time of the incident and will not be named. Adults charged in the incident are Martin Smith of Spanish Fork, Cody Long of Spanish Fork, Travis Argyle of Lake Shore and Colton Belliston of Woodland Hills. Court appearances are pending.

On Tuesday, November 23, 2004, Sanpete County Sheriff’s Department, in cooperation with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, continued the investigation on some explosions on the Manti High School property. During their investigation it was determined that numerous explosive devices were detonated on school property causing significant damage. Value of damage has not been assessed at this time. The incidents were isolated to high school property and occurred on the dates of November 17 – 19, 2004.

High School students were interviewed, and information was obtained which led to four juvenile suspects. The report will be referred to Sanpete County Attorney’s Office for review and filing of charges.

Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also looking into charging the juveniles involved federally due to the severity of the crime.

Juveniles will also be dealt with administratively by the South Sanpete School District Superintendent.

On 11-22-04 at approx. 09:00 hrs. the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. was notified about some suspicious behavior that had occurred over the weekend at the Manti High school football field. Deputies were sent to investigate. It appeared that one of the ticket booths at the Manti High School football field had been damaged by an explosion.The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. @ 435-835-2191.

On 10-10-04 at approx. 16:00 the Sanpete County Sheriff’s office was notified that 40 year old Martin Alvarez of West Valley was hunting elk and had not returned. Martin was hunting in the area between Indianola and North Skyline drive. Sanpete County Sheriff’s Deputies as well as the Sanpete County Search and Rescue conducted a search of the area until approx. 22:00 with no success. On 10-11-04 at daylight the Sanpete County Sheriff’s office and the Search and Rescue with the help of Rocky Mountain search dogs resumed the search for Mr. Alvarez. At approx. 10:30 Mr. Alvarez was located and transported to the Sanpete Valley Hospital where he is being treated for hypothermia but is expected to make a full recovery.

Sanpete County Sheriff Kay P. Larsen gets State inmates back in the Jail. When Sheriff Larsen took office it was his goal to get the contract back that had been lost, and after several months of work the Sanpete County Sheriff has signed a contract with the State of Utah to house up to 8 State prisoners in the Sanpete County Jail. The Jail is currently housing 5 State inmates with plans to have 8 as room allows. Sheriff Larsen would like to thank his staff for all the hard work they have done to help him get the State inmate contract back to Sanpete County.

On 8-12-04 The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Ephraim Police Dept. received information from a concerned citizen that Robert Draper and Justin Henriksen both of Ephraim could be in possession of stolen property. During the course of the investigation property was recovered, and linked back to several Burglaries that have occurred throughout Sanpete County. Robert Draper and Justin Henriksen were both arrested and booked into the Sanpete County Jail on several Felony and Misdemeanor charges.

The Sanpete County Sheriff’s Department would like to convey these Burglary prevention tips to all citizens of the County.

Burglary is a crime of opportunity
The less opportunity you allow the Burglar,
The less chances of you being the next victim.

1- Install deadbolt locks on doors. The cylinder should be pick resistant. Lock the doors every time you leave even if you will only be gone a short time. In most burglaries there is no forced entry.

2- Install solid doors. Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood and at least 1 ¾ inches thick. Frames must be made of equally strong material and each door must fit its frame securely.

3- Keep garage doors closed and locked.

4- Secure sliding doors and windows. Use wooden dowels or drill holes in and place a screw or nail in the frame.

5- Mark your property. Mark your valuables with an engraver by placing your name on the item. Marking your property serves as a deterrent to would be burglars and helps Law Enforcement in identifying and returning your property. Make a property list of items that you own. Write down serial numbers, the make, the model, and the color of the property. Keep your property list in a secure place.

6- Do not keep large amounts of cash in your home (no more than you can afford to loose) If you do have money in your home find a secure hiding place. Most people leave money in their drawers and this is one of the first places a burglar will look.

7- Purchase a burglar alarm. A home alarm system can be a very effective burglary deterrent.

8- Leave an interior light on. Make it look as though someone is home. A lot of burglaries happen within the first two hours after it gets dark in the evening. A burglar will ride around and see that there are no lights on and know that nobody is home. If you are going on a trip or not going to be home at night use a timer to turn on a lamp at a specified time.

9- Close drapes and blinds. This makes it harder for a burglar to see in your home.

10- Use exterior lighting. Motion lights are recommended. (Burglars hate light).

11- Neighborhood watch. When you are going to be away from your home tell a trusted neighbor and have them watch your property. Keep shrubbery trimmed so it does not obstruct the view of doors and windows. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time have someone pick up your mail and newspaper daily.

12- If any suspicious people or activity is seen in your neighborhood please contact law enforcement. Most of the time you will know if something is not quite right in your neighborhood.

13- If you arrive at your home and find that you are a victim of a burglary please do not touch anything. By leaving the crime scene untouched you will greatly increase the chance that law enforcement may find evidence that will help in catching the burglar.

When you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time contact your local law enforcement and have them conduct security checks of your property.