Man charged in smoke shop sting busted for drugs, weapons, child endangerment

ST. GEORGE – The man charged in a 2013 spice sting at Mike’s Smoke, Cigar and Gifts in St. George was arrested early Friday morning, along with his wife, on multiple drug, weapons and child endangerment charges.

Kyle Max Best | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff's Office
Kyle Max Best | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office

Best, 29, and his wife, Erin Best, 27, both of St. George, were arrested and booked into Washington County’s Purgatory Correctional Facility at approximately 1 a.m. Friday following a search of their home by the Washington County Drug Task Force.

According to probable cause statements filed in connection with the arrests, the task force executed a search warrant at the Bests’ home in St. George at about 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

Task force members encountered Erin Best sitting on the floor in her son’s bedroom by the doorway, according to a statement. Investigators searched the child’s room and found a digital scale with a brown residue on it. Burnt tinfoil with suspected heroin residue was also alleged to have been found in the room.

A search of the master bedroom produced substances alleged to be heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine, along with suspected drug paraphernalia. A handgun with ammunition was also discovered in an unlocked drawer of a nightstand that was close to the ground.

Due to the close proximity of the suspected drugs and the handgun to small children in the home – the Bests have two children, ages 6 and 7, according to a statement – Kyle and Erin Best were each charged with two counts of child endangerment.

A large safe was also found in the master bedroom and was searched. A number of operable guns were found inside the safe.

Erin Brooke Best | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff's Office
Erin Brooke Best | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office

When questioned, Kyle Best allegedly told task force members that his fingerprints would be found on the guns. Kyle Best is listed as a convicted felon, which restricts him from owning firearms. According to the statement, he is also currently on probation.

A search of Kyle Best’s person produced two baggies that contained suspected heroin and methamphetamine.

Kyle Best was booked on class A and class B misdemeanor charges related to drug possession and five third-degree felonies related to drug possession, child endangerment and having access to a firearm as a restricted person. His bail currently stands at $27,533.

Erin Best was booked on a class A misdemeanor charge for tampering with evidence, two class B misdemeanors related to drug possession and five third-degree felonies related to drug possession, child endangerment and allowing access to a firearm by a restricted person. Her bail currently stands at $28,109.

Kyle Best was previously arrested by the task force in early 2013 while working at Mike’s Smoke, Cigar and Gifts in St. George. The smoke shop was raided by the drug task force as a part of a spice sting. As a result of the sting, Kyle Best was charged with a class A misdemeanor for drug possession with intent to distribute. That case is in the midst of court proceedings.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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11 Comments

  • zipnipnub August 29, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    Awesome work task force

  • proudtobeamerican August 30, 2014 at 11:36 am

    It was just a matter of time before these 2 got caught. They should have learned after the first arrest that SGPD was going to have them under a microscope.

  • bobber August 31, 2014 at 2:50 pm

    The good news is that it’s been decided that Kyle is still worthy enough to keep his recommend.

  • patient August 31, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Poor Boober, if you only really knew.

    • what? September 1, 2014 at 12:11 am

      Knew what? Do you have a secret? I have a secret. Mormons are goofy. They believe in things that no one else believes in. Outside of here, there is another world where people live their life as if it’s okay to be who you are. Bobber and Koolaid are a little extreme. But their anger is sometimes justified. Your shell here in St. George is being busted. Not just from the outside. But from the inside.

    • Zonkerb October 10, 2014 at 5:37 pm

      Hey patient I have more respect for bobber and koolaid than I do you they go around trying to shove a cult down people’s throat like you and your cult trash do

  • Koolaid September 1, 2014 at 8:35 am

    Child endangerment. Why wasn’t the drunk cop who rolled the police truck with his kids inside cited for child endangerment and destruction of public property? Did he hold a worthy get out of jail card?

  • EL JEFE September 3, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Simply the “Best” of southern Utah!! Sheesh…..

  • SHAME ON U September 20, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    WHAT IS THE MAGIC NUMBER???
    HOW MANY TIMES DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE THE PENALTIES SO HARSH HE STOPS PREYING ON PEOPLE. SPICE IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AS R HIS BATH SALTS.

  • SMH November 3, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    Who made all of you god? When you can tell me you are 100% perfect then and only then i will allow you to run this familys name in the mud. They are good people.. Yes they have made mistakes but you have no room to say anything until you know the entire truth

  • fred December 6, 2014 at 5:49 am

    Tell you all what if you would live your own life you wouldn’t have to worry so much bout everybody else and what religion they are . Doubt anybody that posted anything derogatory bout kyle or his family knows him remotely. Ive known kyle personally for 12 years and I’m from a smaller more judgemental town then st. George and I’ll tell you from actually knowing him he is an outstanding,caring,family oriented man. If anybody knew the whole situation and what the warrant really was for and how much they found you would be outraged that tax dollars was spent to “take down this horrible horrible man”. Its too bad because there are far far worse people that need to be where he is now and surely does not deserve these slanderous comments. Live your life you might find out something bout yourself. CRAZY!!

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