PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

April 18, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

SLCPD Liberty HRC Squad Seize Large Quantity of Methamphetamine

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division Homeless Resource Center (HRC) squad have safely arrested a 55-year-old man and seized a large quantity of methamphetamine, cash, a gun, and two knives.

“This is a substantial drug seizure that potentially prevented hundreds, if not thousands, of individual doses of methamphetamine from reaching our streets,” said Chief Mike Brown. “The success of this traffic stop, investigation, and seizure of drugs, along with the recovery of a gun and knives, will significantly contribute to the overall safety of our community. Our HRC officers in the Liberty Patrol Division have been instrumental in building strong relationships with community members, resulting in a safer and cleaner community.”

This investigation started at 5:01 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, when SLCPD HRC officers stopped a car for an expired temporary registration near 1300 South 300 West.

The officer spoke with the driver, later identified as Juan Rocha, and found him to be driving on a denied driver’s license.

Officers impounded the car.

During an inventory of the car, officers found a handgun, 26 fentanyl pills, 130 grams of powdered methamphetamine, 235 grams (half of a pound) of solid methamphetamine, four grams of marijuana, two knives, drug paraphernalia, and $104 in cash.

Officers booked Rocha into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of being a restricted person by firearm, one count of possession of a controlled substance/marijuana, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of driving on a denied license, and one count of expired registration.

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.

Several photos of the evidence seized are being released. Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

A photo of seized illegal drugs from a traffic stop on 1300 South 300 West (SLCPD photo – April 17, 2024).

A photo of methamphetamine seized during a traffic stop at 1300 South 300 West (SLCPD photo – April 17, 2024).

A photo of seized illegal drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia from a traffic stop at 1300 South 300 West (SLCPD photo – April 17, 2024).

###