ENTERPRISE, Utah, Feb. 2, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — What started as a report of a stranded motorist resulted in a rescue, plus an arrest on multiple charges.
The Washington County Sheriff’s office on Tuesday morning was advised of a stranded motorist, reportedly a 24-year-old female in a 2015 Nissan Titan pickup, was stuck after a heavy snowfall in a remote area a mile south of Enterprise city limits.
Deputies were told she had attempted to walk through the snow, but did not have a coat or other warm clothing suitable for the frigid weather or the deep snow.
The Enterprise Fire Department and volunteers from Washington County Search and Rescue responded to the subject’s location, as did a Life Flight helicopter.
Deputies learned while searching that the woman was with her boyfriend, Catalin Moroianu, of Las Vegas. The two were found together, partially clothed, inside the stranded vehicle.
Officers allowed the two to dress, and a sock was knocked out of the truck. A deputy picking up the sock noticed it contained a pipe containing a suspected methamphetamine residue. Moroianu initially provided false personal information, then admitted to being in possession of a handgun.
Moroianu was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a weapon by a restricted person. Moroianu and the female subject were transported back to an area where they could be seen by medical personnel.
A subsequent interview with the female subject revealed a domestic dispute had allegedly taken place between her and Moroianu while they were stranded for two days.
Moroianu was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility on the original charges plus on one count of simple assault domestic violence and false personal information.
The identity of the female is not being released at this time due to her being a victim in an alleged domestic violence situation.
