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FILLMORE — A California man has been charged with negligent homicide after the man he was traveling with was found unresponsive at a gas station in Fillmore and later died from a possible drug overdose.
In addition to negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor, Gary G. Spears, 46, of Lakewood, California, was also charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with drug possession with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony; obstructing justice and drug possession, class A misdemeanors; marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, class B misdemeanors.
About 10 a.m. Monday, Millard County sheriff's deputies were called to perform a welfare check on an unresponsive man in a Chevy Camaro parked at the Maverick station at 965 South and state Route 99. Deputies arrived to find Spears in the passenger seat and a man in the driver's seat, according to a police booking affidavit.
"Gary said they were traveling and stopped for fuel when his friend became nonresponsive," the affidavit states. After police spotted syringes in the vehicle, Spears allegedly admitted his friend "could have used heroin."
The friend, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to a local hospital where he died. During a more extensive search of the Camaro, investigators found methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, used syringe needles and other paraphernalia, the affidavit states.
Spears admitted to using meth, speed and marijuana, according to the arrest report, and a test conducted by deputies was positive for meth, opioids, amphetamines and THC being in Spears' system.
