PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

June 7, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

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

Pioneer Bike Officers Arrest Man, Seize 1,200 Fentanyl Pills at Constitution Park

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Pioneer Patrol Division’s Bike Squad safely arrested a 24-year-old man accused of selling fentanyl pills in Constitution Park along the Jordan River Trail.

The suspect is identified as Denilson Castro Alvarez.

This investigation started at 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, inside the park at 1300 West and 300 North.

During the investigation, officers saw Alvarez receive cash from another man. Officers found 12 plastic bags that contained approximately 1,200 blue fentanyl pills and $429 in cash on Alvarez.

To disrupt criminal activity, SLCPD officers conduct daily patrols along the Jordan River Trail, the Folsom Trail, and North Temple Street. SLCPD officers will continue to patrol in these areas in effort to eliminate all criminal activities.

Officers booked Alvarez into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

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.

The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Pioneer Patrol Division includes nine patrol squads, a District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) and a full-time bike squad. Within its jurisdiction lie Salt Lake City council districts 1 and 2, encompassing notable parks such as Jordan Park and the International Peace Gardens. The Pioneer Patrol Division’s jurisdictional boundaries extend from Interstate 15 in the east to 8000 West on the west, from the Salt Lake County line in the north to State Route 201 in the south. With a primary focus on maintaining public safety, deterring criminal activities, ensuring swift emergency responses, and fostering community outreach, the division plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of our community.

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