Officers and patrol sergeants of the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Pioneer Patrol Division arrested 14 people in two operations to reduce criminal activity along the Jordan River Trail.[1] The first operation took place on Monday, 18 December 2023, near 1200 West North Temple, where four people were arrested for possession or use of a controlled substance.[1] The second operation was held on Thursday, 21 December 2023, led by the division’s graveyard shift with a K-9 unit and a bike squad, and ended with nine people arrested and one released on a criminal citation.[1] Officers said the intent of both operations was to identify drug dealers along the trail.[1] On the Thursday operation officers contacted 35 people along the trail.[1]
During the Thursday operation police recovered 70 blue fentanyl pills, about $400, a knife and other drug paraphernalia.[1] Eight people were booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.[1] Among those booked was Carlos Ferrara-Lopez, 33, held on a charge of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana or spice).[1] The other charges in the police list were for controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, failing to stop for officers, outstanding warrants and providing false information, with no further cannabis count.[1] Officers cited and released a 27-year-old man for criminal trespassing and violating city park curfew.[2]
KUTV’s account of the same police statement lists the same bookings and the same seizure of pills, cash and paraphernalia.[2] Chief Mike Brown said the department would not allow people to jeopardize community safety by letting drugs be distributed.[1] Police said the charges are only allegations and every arrested person is presumed innocent.[1]
