PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

February 7, 2023

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Bike Squads Concentrated Efforts Result in Five Arrests

SALT LAKE CITY — As part of an ongoing and coordinated effort to reduce crime and increase community safety, officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Pioneer, Liberty, and Central Bike Squads conducted a concentrated drug interdiction mission.

During the operation, held on Tuesday February 7, 2023, officers arrested five people.

In total, officers confiscated 10.9 grams of methamphetamine, 139 fentanyl tablets, 14.7 grams of heroin, four grams of cocaine and $100 in cash.

Bike officers focused their efforts in three areas including North Temple between 800 West and 2000 West (Pioneer Patrol Division), 600 South near 200 West (Central Patrol Division), and 2100 South to 1300 South between State Street and West Temple (Liberty Patrol Division).

Officers also made more than 10 contacts with community members to continue building relationships with neighbors.

Below is a brief description of the cases.

Incident #1: This investigation started at 9:20 a.m. when officers near 900 West 230 North saw 39-year-old Kelvin Ramirez make a drug transaction with another person. Officers stopped Ramirez and found over 100 suspected fentanyl pills, heroin, and cocaine.

Officers booked Ramirez into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on three charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, and Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

Incident #2: This investigation started at 10:35 a.m. when officers saw a suspicious car with no license plates near 176 West 600 South. Officers stopped the car and learned the driver, 29-year-old Zerina Besic, had outstanding warrants for her arrest. Besic lied to officers and gave a false name.

Officers booked Besic into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on the outstanding warrants.

Incident #3: This investigation started at 11:30 a.m. when officers near 950 West Folsom Avenue watched 39-year-old Duval Hernandez-Avila sell drugs to another person. Officers stopped Hernandez-Avila and found approximately 20 suspected fentanyl pills.

Officers booked Hernandez-Avila into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

Incident #4: This investigation started at 11:50 a.m. when officers near 900 West North Temple Street watched 60-year-old Gabriel Schiavone sell drugs to another person. Officers stopped Schiavone and recovered six individually packaged bags of methamphetamine.

Officers booked Schiavone into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

Incident #5: This investigation started at 4:41 p.m. when officers near 1537 South Main Street spotted 43-year-old Jose Nunez-Marcano. Officers knew Nunez-Marcano had outstanding warrants for his arrest.

Officers safely took Nunez-Marcano into custody and recovered several small bags of individually wrapped heroin.

Officers took Nunez-Marcano to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail and booked him on one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Obstruction of Justice, and warrants.

In addition to the five arrests, SLCPD patrol officers arrested approximately eight other people on drug-related charges on Tuesday separate  to the operation. Additional arrests may become known to the department as reports from the graveyard shift are completed.

The Salt Lake City Police Department will continue to use crime analysis and mapping to assign officers to be highly visible to help deter street and violent crimes.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

Photos from the operation are being released. Media may use these photos with proper credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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