PRICE, Utah, May 30, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A man and two women were arrested in Price after an alert citizen called dispatch to report she thought she saw a male overdosing in a parked car.
A news release from Price City Police Department said the citizen phoned dispatch just before 4 p.m. Sunday to report drug activity inside a vehicle at a downtown business.
“The caller allegedly observed a male behind the steering wheel of the parked car who appeared to be having an overdose,” the news release said. “The caller then allegedly observed a female enter the vehicle and inject something into her arm, while at the same time trying to rouse the male.”
While on the phone with dispatch, the caller observed the male awaken, and drive off, with two female passengers.
Carbon County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tory Christiansen was able to observe and intercept the vehicle on the east side of Price. He initiated a traffic stop, and Price City police officer Tyler Cressall arrived on scene to conduct the investigation. Other deputies and officers arrived on scene to assist.
Responding units attended to the potential medical issues relative to the alleged drug use of the male driver and front female passenger. A rear seat female passenger seemed to be unaffected, the news release said.
“During the course of contact with the occupants of the vehicle it was learned the male driver had taken over payments for the car, as the actual owner was required to go to prison for violating the terms of his parole,” the news release stated.
“It was then allegedly learned that there was no current insurance for the vehicle along with registration issues.”
The vehicle was impounded, and a vehicle inventory was conducted by the officers. The officers located numerous drug and paraphernalia items. The seized items included more than 26 grams of heroin, more than a gram of methamphetamine, a variety of prescription pills, counterfeit money and numerous items of paraphernalia.
All three subjects were arrested and booked into the Carbon County Jail. Reese Gordon Laws, 36, from Blanding, was arrested for felony distribution of heroin, and misdemeanor charges of possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. According to court records, Laws has two previous arrests, both involving drug offenses.
Vanessa Alicia Montano, 23, from Blanding, was arrested for misdemeanor charges of possession of heroin, methamphetamine, prescription pills (unlawfully obtained), and paraphernalia. According to court records, Montano has one previous arrest for several charges including aggravated assault and unlawful detention, for which she entered into a plea in abeyance agreement with the 7th District Court in May of 2016.
Michelle Lynn Holley, 38, from Price, was arrested for misdemeanor charges of possession of heroin, methamphetamine and paraphernalia. According to court records, Holley has 13 previous arrests including charges for drug offenses, false information, forgery, burglary and theft.
The Carbon County Attorney’s Office will review the report to determine the appropriate formal charges, along with potential additional charges.
