PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

July 26, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://slcpd.com/mediarequest/

SLCPD Recovers Illegal Drugs, Stolen SUV During Traffic Stop

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division safely arrested a 44-year-old man accused of being in a stolen SUV and having illegal drugs.

This investigation started at 11:54 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023, when an officer saw a man, later identified as Charles Williams, asleep in the driver’s seat of an SUV stopped at a red light at the intersection of 800 East 400 South.

Officers learned the SUV was reported stolen out of Kearns, Utah. As officers tried putting Williams into handcuffs, he resisted and ran away.

Additional officers quickly arrived on scene and safely took Williams into custody.

Officers found methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, cash, and drug paraphernalia inside the SUV.

Officers took Williams to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail and booked him on three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with arresting officer, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, and unrelated felony warrants.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

A photo of the items recovered is being released. Media may use this photo with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

1- Photo of cash, drugs and paraphernalia recovered by police. (Salt Lake City Police Department photo | July 22, 2023)

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