CEDAR CITY — Felony and misdemeanor charges have been filed against a bus driver who police say was impaired while he was preparing to drive a group of students to Disneyland.

Brandon Mark Gillman, 30, of South Jordan, was about to transport a busload of Canyon View High graduates to Southern California when a drug-detecting K-9 indicated there was something in his backpack.

Three Utah Trailways buses and drivers had been hired to take students and were preparing to depart around 11:30 p.m. on May 25 when Cedar City police officers were conducting a search of the students' luggage.

The three bus drivers were told that the dog would search for illegal substances on the bus and were asked if they had any problems.

"One of the bus drivers, later identified as Brandon Gillman, became very nervous after learning about the K-9," the charges state. "While I (was) on the bus Brandon was assigned to drive, I viewed him pick up a backpack (later identified as his) open the bag, pull an item out and place it in his pocket."

Describing the behavior as "suspicious," the officer asked to speak with Gillman. He told the man to leave his backpack on the bus while the searches were being conducted.

The K-9 went on one bus and found nothing. In the second bus — the one that Gillman was to drive — the dog "quickly indicated on the bag left in the driver's seat by Brandon."

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The officer asked to search Gillman and the man agreed. When asked to empty his pockets, he told the officer he was carrying a prescription medication. He was carrying a bottle holding 17 Endocet pills, the charges state.

Officers said they found no evidence that Gillman had a prescription for the medication.

The officer then asked to search Gillman's backpack and found a bottle holding two Zolpidem pills as well as three plastic bags filled with powder.

"Two had a slight color and a sweet odor," the charges state. "The other had no odor, was white, very fine and was consistent to cocaine. A drug identifying test was conducted and showed negative for cocaine."

Gillman was then taken to Iron County Correctional Facility, where he took a number of field sobriety tests. Prosecutors say the man failed all of the tests.

Another test showed the man was "under the influence of impairing substances," the charges state. A urine test came back positive for cocaine and OxyContin and Gillman was booked into jail.

Gillman was charged with possession or use of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony; possession or use of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony; possession or use of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; use or possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, both class B misdemeanors.

School officials said they had asked for the search to reassure parents, but were convinced of its importance after Gillman's arrest. They said Gillman's arrest could have prevented the students' celebration from becoming a tragedy.

"In my mind, there's a strong likelihood that we (would be) having a mass memorial service instead of celebrating the accomplishments of these kids," Canyon View High School Principal Richard Nielsen said at the time.

Gillman was released after posting $10,000 bond. His first court appearance will be June 12.

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