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SALT LAKE CITY — Thirty-one people have been arrested this week in four drug raids tied to Operation Rio Grande, a multi-agency effort to root out crime in the capital city's most troubled neighborhood, police say.
Of those 31 people, 25 were arrested about 6 a.m. Thursday when officers with the Department of Public Safety’s Special Emergency Response Team, State Bureau of Investigation, and Adult Probation and Parole served a search warrant at 148 N. Laxon Court (915 West).
The other three warrants were served earlier this week, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce said, resulting in raids of a Poplar Grove home that led to two arrests; Baymont Inn & Suites in Murray, 4465 Century Drive, that led to one arrest; and Gateway Inn, 819 W. North Temple, that led to three arrests.
Royce declined to provide the address of the Poplar Grove home or the specific dates of the raids.
All four warrants were served based on intelligence collected by officers who have been working in the Rio Grande area since the operation began about a month ago, using "confidential informants" and "good investigative police work," said UHP Maj. Jess Anderson.
"These are drug dealers who have been operating in that area and selling to that community," Anderson said. "This was all traced back to a major drug supplier."
During Thursday's raid, 25 people were found inside the house, Anderson said. All were taken to the State Bureau of Investigation headquarters for questioning.
Neighbor Chris Hunt, who lives near the Laxton Court home, said she was "thrilled to death" by the raid.
"I'm just so happy that we will get our quiet neighborhood back again," Hunt said, describing people coming and going from the house, "trashing" the neighborhood and leaving parents fearful to let their children play outside.
Hunt said just last weekend her husband found a man sleeping naked in their backyard, covered in feces.
"We are just so thankful to have them gone," Hunt said.
Two guns were recovered out of the home, Anderson said, including one that was stolen.
"Small quantities of drugs" were also found inside the Laxon Court home, Anderson said, but he did not know the exact amounts and what types of drugs.
Royce said investigators are expected to determine which of the 25 individuals will be arrested for investigation of drug distribution, drug possession or other potential charges. Detectives were also working to determine who lives in the house and which people were there to buy drugs.
“Alongside our law enforcement partners, we are addressing drug trafficking in and around the Rio Grande area and across the state,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Keith Squires. “This is a great example of multiple agencies working together to make a profound impact on the problems faced in the Rio Grande area.
"There are dangerous criminal elements out there, and we are steadily progressing in our efforts to make Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas a safer place," Squires continued.
The Salt Lake County Health Department was inspecting the Laxon Court house Thursday afternoon.
Contributing: Pat Reavy, Caitlin Burchill
