PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

April 29, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

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

SLCPD Conducts Operation in Liberty Park to Curb Illegal Drug Trafficking

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers and detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department conducted an operation inside Liberty Park to address recent community concerns about drug trafficking.

The operation resulted in the arrest of two people and the confiscation of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

The operation, conducted Sunday, April 28, 2024, included detectives from the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and the SLCPD’s Liberty Patrol Division Bike Squad and the Pioneer Patrol Division Bike Squad.

The Salt Lake City Police Department recognizes the importance of helping to maintain a drug-free environment in our parks. The SLCPD works to address these issues to help ensure a welcoming atmosphere for all park users. Typically, calls for service in Liberty Park increase during spring and summer when more people are in the park.

Community members have reported seeing fights, drug activity, lewd behavior, and other conduct unbecoming of the quality of life expected in Salt Lake City.

To address these issues, the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division has worked to identify criminal behavior and to hold those offenders accountable through strategic enforcement.

During Sunday’s operation, officers arrested a 30-year-old man and 22-year-old Colton McShane.

Officers released the 30-year-old man, pending the screening of charges with the district attorney’s office.

Officers arrested McShane on charges of felony drug distribution, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a restricted person.

During the investigation officers found McShane in possession of methamphetamine, a large amount of psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, a digital scale, and a knife.

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.

A photo of the evidence seized is being released. Media may use this photo with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

On Sunday, April 28, 2024, Salt Lake City Police officers arrested a 22-year-old man in Liberty Park during a drug operation and seized methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, a digital scale, a pocket knife, and drug paraphernalia (Photo by: Salt Lake City Police Department – April 28, 2024).

###