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ORANGEVILLE, Emery County — A man wanted in California on weapons charges has been arrested in Utah after deputies said they found him hiding in a residence with numerous guns, a flamethrower, a bulletproof vest, drugs and a large amount of cash.
On Saturday, Emery County sheriff's deputies learned that John Douglas Goodrich, 60, was living in a house in Orangeville and that he had a warrant out for his arrest in California for fleeing the state while facing weapons and drug-related charges, a police booking affidavit states.
A deputy went to the residence and saw someone who he believed was Goodrich inside the house as he got out of his patrol car. But that person went to the back of the house when the deputy approached and would not answer the door, the affidavit states. The deputy then started the process of getting a search warrant.
When the warrant was obtained, the deputy and a number of backup officers returned to the front door and knocked. When no one answered again, officers broke down the door and entered with a police K-9.
The deputies cleared each room until they found a locked bathroom door in the master bedroom, the affidavit states. The K-9 handler "called out if anyone was in there to come out with their hands up or the K-9 would be released and they would get bit," the affidavit states. Goodrich then opened the door and surrendered.
During a subsequent second search of the house, deputes found "multiple AR-style rifles, handguns, a flamethrower, swords, (and a) hunting-style rifle ... along with numerous rounds of live ammunition. A handgun and AR-style rifle were located in the bathroom that John Goodrich was hiding in. Both of the guns in the bathroom had live rounds of ammunition in the chambers," according to the affidavit.
Additionally, four pounds of marijuana, over a pound of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, parts to build AR-style weapons, $29,000 in cash, "bulletproof armor that appeared to have been tested, (and) badges with the following insignias: United States Department of Defense, United States Marshall and King County out of Washington state," were all located in the house and seized, investigators wrote in the affidavit.
Goodrich was formally charged on Tuesday in 7th District Court with 22 felony and misdemeanor crimes, including 14 counts of possession of a gun by a restricted person, drug manufacturing, and drug possession, third-degree felonies; two counts of marijuana possession and three counts of unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, class A misdemeanors; and illegal discharge of a firearm, a class B misdemeanor.
He has a "lengthy criminal history with several felony convictions on his record dating back to 2006," the affidavit states. Most recently, he was arrested in November and charged with several weapons-related crimes. While out of jail on bail, he allegedly fled California and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
"It took a certified K-9 to get John to come out of the bathroom. I believe that if John is put back in the community and we have dealings again, then the chances of us ending in a shooting would be more likely," the arrested deputy wrote while requesting that Goodrich be held in jail without bail pending the filing of formal charges.
