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SLCPD Conducts Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Interdiction Mission Along Jordan River Trail

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department, with the assistance of seven other law enforcement agencies, conducted a multi-day drug interdiction mission along the Jordan River Trail that resulted in 54 arrests and the seizure of more than 1,000 fentanyl pills.

Salt Lake City Police conducted the operation on Wednesday, February 7, Friday, February 9, and Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

The overall objective for this operation was to identify, locate, and arrest drug dealers, traffickers, and buyers along the Jordan River Trail.

The following agencies participated in the operation:

·       Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD)

·       Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office (SLCSO)

·       Utah Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole (AP&P)

·       Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS)

·       Utah Highway Patrol (UHP)

·       Utah State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

·       Utah Transit Authority Police Department (UTA PD)

In October 2023, the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Pioneer Patrol Division began increased enforcement along the Jordan River Trail and in communities along the trail to address and prevent criminal activity.

SLCPD officers conducted daily patrols along the Jordan River Trail to disrupt criminal activity.

Recognizing the issues required a multi-disciplinary approach, the SLCPD began coordinating with city, regional, and state agencies to address the community concerns along the Jordan River Trail.

Weekly strategy meetings with law enforcement and other stakeholders continue.

Future law enforcement operations are expected.

During the operation, law enforcement:

·       Arrested 54 people.

·       Seized more than $5,500 in cash.

·       Seized more than 900 suspected fentanyl pills.

·       Seized nearly 20 grams of cocaine.

·       Seized nearly five grams of marijuana.

·       Seized nearly six grams of heroin.

Additionally, law enforcement seized stolen credit cards, other controlled substances, weapons, prohibited items, and other drug paraphernalia.

The area of operation included the South Temple to 400 North and 1500 West to 900 West.

Additionally, the following Salt Lake City Police Department assets participated:

·       SLCPD Central Bike Squad

·       SLCPD Intelligence Center

·       SLCPD K-9 Squad

·       SLCPD Liberty Bike Squad

·       SLCPD Pioneer Bike Squad

·       SLCPD Pioneer Patrol Division

·       SLCPD Public Relations Unit

·       SLCPD Special Investigations Unit

Over the course of the operation, law enforcement arrested:

·       Ajna Miljkovik

·       Anderson Trolson

·       Benjamin Jensen

·       Benjamin Lee

·       Bradley Pace

·       Bret Bryan

·       Cedric Price

·       Destiny Romero

·       Dino Valentino

·       Disree Nielson

·       Eduardo Pena

·       Elan Cabrera Arlazola

·       Erica Raso

·       Erick Moreno

·       Ernesto Roosma

·       Ever Davea Cabrea

·       Foxy Flores

·       Frederick Hidalgo

·       Geoffrey Burr

·       Giang Dao

·       Gustavo Gutierrez

·       Henry Hall

·       Ian Robertson

·       Jaden Tams

·       Janelle Garcia

·       Jeff Bingham

·       Jennifer Orloski

·       Joby Bounyavoux

·       Jorge Martinez

·       Jose Rodriguez Arguijo

·       Jose Zuniga-Archaga

·       Joshua Hall

·       Josua Ariel Estrada-Barahona

·       Justin Lewis

·       Justinn Peegrino

·       Kayla Blakely

·       Kenneth Kelly

·       Kenneth Thomas

·       Lan Nguyen

·       Lee Wood

·       Lionel Maesato

·       Marlom Josoa Hernandez

·       Matthew Thomas

·       Pedro Antonio Zuniga-Gomez

·       Samuel Jensen

·       Tevita Vanuku

·       Theresa Campos

·       Trafton Cowdell

·       Vincent Vasquez

·       Zakary Vandecar

Law enforcement booked most of the people arrested into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on drug-related charges, warrants, and probation violations.

The Salt Lake City Police Department would like to thank the Utah State Fairpark for their assistance.

For additional information on the individuals arrested, including charges and age, please refer to Utah Courts Xchange.

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.

Video taken by the Salt Lake City Police Department during this operation can be obtained by clicking here.

Several photos are also being released.

Media may use the photos and video with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Photo: Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department search a white passenger car after arresting the driver as part of a drug investigation (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

Photo: An officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department and a Trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol escort a person arrested to a SLCPD patrol SUV (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

Photo: Two officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department search a man arrested as part of a drug operation (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police officer processes evidence after a foot pursuit during a drug operation (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police officer, assigned to the Liberty Patrol Division Bike Squad conducts a traffic stop during a drug investigation along the Jordan River Trail (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police officer, assigned to the Central Patrol Division Bike Squad, conducts a search as part of an investigation into fentanyl possession (SLCPD photo, February 9, 2024).

Photo: A trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol escorts a person arrested into the law enforcement processing center (SLCPD photo, February 7, 2024).

Photo: A person arrested waits for processing as a law enforcement officers hold cash seized during the investigation into drug trafficking (SLCPD photo, February 7, 2024).

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