Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PRICE — A call about a suspected shoplifter led to the discovery Tuesday of a substantial amount of methamphetamine and heroin, according to Price police.
Officers were called to a business near 600 West and Price River Drive about 4:35 p.m. after a man stole merchandise and drove away in a red Pontiac G6, Price Police Chief Kevin Drolc said.
Officers quickly found the vehicle in a nearby parking lot, Drolc said. Inside the car they could see the items that had been reported stolen as well as some drug paraphernalia, the chief said.
Meanwhile, another officer found the suspected shoplifter inside another business and was able to identify the man as the owner of the Pontiac, Drolc said.
Officers said the man gave them consent to search his car and they discovered a lock box that held 27.1 grams of methamphetamine, 4.1 grams of heroin and several loose pills.
Jason Francis Ori, 33, was booked into the Carbon County Jail for investigation of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, felony retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Price police have made a number of significant drug arrests in recent months. Drolc said that might lead some people to believe the city has a drug problem that is "out of control."
"The increased drug arrests are simply the result of good police work by Price City police officers," the chief said, adding that his department "has always taken drug abuse seriously and will continue to do so."
