Task force nabs trio for drugs; man threatens to kill, assault detectives

ST. GEORGE – Washington County Drug Task Force detectives arrested two men and a woman for drugs Monday during a traffic stop in which one of the men allegedly threatened to harm and kill task force members.

Daniel Paul Wright III, of Washington, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 22, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News
Daniel Paul Wright III, of Washington, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 22, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Task force detectives observed a vehicle cross over the lane dividers and then begin to tailgate a vehicle in front of it near 870 W. Sunset Boulevard in St. George, Washington County Drug Task Force Detective Nick Hallman said in his probable cause statements supporting the arrests.

Detectives recognized a man in the passenger seat of the vehicle as Daniel Paul Wright III, of Washington, who had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for drug possession, Hallman said in the statement, and added that Wright is also a registered sex offender who has not provided a current address as required by law.

A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle for the moving violations, Hallman said, at which point, Wright was told he was under arrest and to exit the car. However, Wright would not exit the vehicle. He was told three more times to exit the car and, each time, continued not to comply, Hallman said in the statement.

Task force detectives reached for Wright and as they grabbed his arm he began to pull away and resist. Wright continued to fight against detectives as he was placed into handcuffs, Hallman said, and added:

While placing him into handcuffs, he looked directly at Detective Jarvie and yelled, ‘I’m gonna (expletive) kill you.’ He told Detective Schuman that if he saw him on the street, he was going to assault him.

Amber Kay Bride, of Ivins, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 22, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News
Amber Kay Bride, of Ivins, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 22, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

A narcotics K-9 was deployed on the vehicle and alerted to an illegal controlled substance being present, Hallman said. During a search of the vehicle, methamphetamine was found in the purse of the driver who was identified as Amber Kay Bride, of Ivins.

Wright told Hallman that the methamphetamine in the purse was his and he had hidden it there, the statement said.

A second man in the vehicle, identified as Codi Jaye Norton, of St. George, was found to have a felony cash-only warrant for his arrest, on which he was arrested. In a backpack belonging to Norton, detectives found heroin, methamphetamine, a scale and baggies with residue on them, Hallman said in the probable cause statement.

The trio was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on Monday.

Codi Jaye Norton, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 22, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News
Codi Jaye Norton, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Dec. 22, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

While at the jail, deputies located a bag of methamphetamine on Bride’s person, the statement said.

Wright was charged with three third-degree felonies for failure to register as a sex offender, possession of drugs and a warrant; and four class B misdemeanors for possession of drug paraphernalia, making threats of violence and interfering with arrest. His bail is set at $43,030.

Norton was charged with three second-degree felonies for drug possession and an outstanding warrant; and a class B misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail is set at $31,850.

Because of both Wright’s and Norton’s prior drug convictions, each of their drug related charges were enhanced.

Bride was charged with two third-degree felonies for drug possession and possession of drugs in a controlled facility; one class B misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia; two class C misdemeanors for improper lane change and following too close. Her bail is set at $10,900.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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15 Comments

  • diane December 24, 2014 at 11:13 am

    How the h*** did Hillman beco me a detective with DTF the guys a moron.
    * Ed. ellipses

    • Retired Trooper December 24, 2014 at 11:51 am

      He can spell “become”

    • SGCitizen December 24, 2014 at 4:43 pm

      Whether he’s moron or not, it looks like he knows how to do his job and know what he is doing if they busted these 3 idiots! I support detective Hallman 100%. Thank you for the great work Washington County DTF!

  • Floyd Kitchen December 24, 2014 at 11:51 am

    It seems like St George is saturated in Drugs. Every day there is a Bust. What’s Up?

    • ladybugavenger December 24, 2014 at 8:38 pm

      In case you had any doubt, St. George is saturated with drugs. It was saturated 18 years ago when I lived here and it’s still saturated.

  • sagemoon December 24, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    Dang tweekers!

  • Joe Smith December 24, 2014 at 12:40 pm

    Was this crew born and bred right here in dixie?

    • crystal December 24, 2014 at 12:56 pm

      I know that one of them were raised here. Went to school here and has been in and out of trouble. Methamphetamine is the devils drug and one of the hardest to get away from. Not excusing actions.

    • koolaid December 24, 2014 at 5:40 pm

      Yep. Tattoo a big D for Dixie on their foreheads

  • Dan Lester December 24, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    True word. My daughter was on meth from ages 14 to 26. Finally got clean in a drug treatment program on the inside. Now has gone to college and is a social worker dealing with helping addicted kids.

    • Joe Smith December 24, 2014 at 5:59 pm

      Well Dan, you must not have been much of a parent then. 14 is pretty damn young to be on meth.

      • ladybugavenger December 25, 2014 at 12:04 am

        Now now Mr Smith, have a Merry Christmas!!

    • Aaron Judd December 25, 2014 at 2:54 pm

      Dan I’m glad to know your daughter recovered. Most Parents aren’t as lucky. I’m sure its great parenting that helps bring Children back after years of poor choices. Drug addiction is a disease most people don’t understand and needs to have more light shed on it and less hate.

  • Monica Warner December 24, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    Joe Smith, you’re an idiot. It doesn’t matter how well a person parents their child some of them will become addicts, and for you to tell Dan Lester that he must not have been much of a parent shows more of who you are in a negative light than anything.

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