AMERICAN FORK, Jan. 2, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — American Fork police arrested a woman on New Year’s Day on 26 charges, 13 felonies and 13 misdemeanors, related to alleged identity theft and illegal drug possession.
Tanya Turner, 35, was detained just before midnight Dec. 31 when an American Fork Police officer noticed her parked with the vehicle’s lights on in a motel lot.
“I watched the female in the driver compartment moving erratically and began to reverse out of the parking stall,” the probable cause statement says. “When the female saw my patrol vehicle, she pulled back into the parking stall, turned the vehicle off and exited the vehicle.
“I made contact with the driver who identified herself as Tanya Turner, a locally known drug user and seller. Tanya advised she was looking for her vehicle keys. Tanya was observed to be moving nervously, talking with cotton mouth, and had dilated pupils.”
Officers noted a needle syringe on the driver’s seat and requested a K-9, the statement says.
“The K-9 was deployed around the vehicle and the handler advised I could search the vehicle,” the probable cause statement says. “Tanya refused to unlock the vehicle, so a search warrant was obtained and approved by an on-call judge.”
The search turned up two small bags that contained a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana. A bag that contained a crystal-like substance was also retrieved from Turner’s pocket, the statement says, adding that the substances were later identified as marijuana and methamphetamine.
“Officers searched the vehicle and located an extensive amount of business and personal checks that did not belong to Tanya Turner,” the probable cause statement says.
“Officers found multiple bank cards with names not belonging to her, as well as a Utah Driver’s License. Officers located papers with various bank account information and bank transaction receipts.”
Drug paraphernalia and an additional bag of substances testing positive for meth and marijuana were also found in the car.
“Officers located a typewriter in the vehicle, and it appears the typewriter had been used to alter some of the checks also found in the vehicle,” the statement says. “It appears Tanya uses the typewriter to make herself the ‘payee’ of the checks.”
Post Miranda, “Tanya admitted the marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia belonged to her. Tanya denied altering the checks and claimed she was given the checks by her ex-boss, who would allegedly alter the checks before having her deposit the checks in the night drop box at the bank.”
Turner’s blood and urine were tested, and came back positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, and benzodiazepines, the statement says.
She was booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of:
- Possession of another’s identity documents 2>100, a third-degree felony
- 11 counts of possession of forgery writing/device, a third-degree felony
- Possession or use of a controlled substance schedule I/II/analog, a third-degree felony
- 11 counts of mail theft, a class A misdemeanor
- Possession or use of a controlled substance, marijuana/spice, a class B misdemeanor
- Use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor
Turner’s bail was set at $40,000.
