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ST. GEORGE — A slow-moving vehicle in the fast lane on Interstate 15 led to the arrest of two people after nearly $1 million of ketamine was found in what appeared to be a bag of dry dog food.
The two people, 25-year-old Qun Lin, of Los Angeles, California, and 30-year-old Jianwei Xu, of Brooklyn, New York, each have been charged with one second-degree felony possession with intent to distribute charge following a traffic stop on I-15 that took place on Friday, Oct. 28. The incident was initiated when a Washington County sheriff's deputy noticed a vehicle reportedly traveling below the posted speed limit as it headed north in the fast lane.
According to the probable cause statement filed in support of the arrest, the vehicle "was not actively passing another vehicle and was clear on multiple occasions to yield to the right lane for faster traffic." After another lane opened and the driver merged into the fast lane for a second time, the deputy got behind the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop near mile marker 21 just south of Leeds.
Police say neither the driver, Lin, nor the passenger and owner of the vehicle, Xu, could speak English, and a Washington City officer was called to the scene to assist. After the officer arrived, the deputy used Google Translate to ask Xu for permission to search the vehicle, and the request reportedly was granted.
