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ST GEORGE — A man police describe as "kind of a dangerous guy" is off the streets after officers received information he was staying at a hotel in St. George.
Last month, a judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Donald Edwards, whose criminal history includes recent charges of drug possession and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
Capt. Kyle Whitehead of the St. George Police Department said, "The person that they had the warrant for was kind of a dangerous guy."
So for their safety, St. George police kept their distance as they ran surveillance on Edwards at the Knights Inn Hotel at 1140 Bluff St.
"We had information that he may be in possession of guns," Whitehead said.
For six hours, officers with the Drug Task Force watched Edwards, according to the hotel owner, from another room. They say there was a lot of traffic to the room, which is typical of drug activity. When Edwards got in a car, officers moved in.
Three other people who were with Edwards - Trevor Chirrick, Alexis Anderson and Karli Chambers - were arrested too.
Police searched their car and the hotel room. They found heroin, meth and cocaine in amounts that lead them to believe the drugs were being sold. They also found thousands of dollars in cash and several handguns.
The owner of the hotel said a couple had been renting the room since the weekend.
"What happens a lot of times is when people deal drugs, they tend to get paranoid and don't want to bring attention to their place. So they'll go get a local hotel room and deal out of the hotel room," Whitehead said.
Police hope Edwards' arrest make a dent in the drug problem.
He says all police can do is make it tough for dealers to set up shop in their neighborhoods.
"You arrest one, there's going to be someone else to step in to fill their shoes later on," Whitehead said.
Edwards was booked into the Washington County Jail on multiple charges, including distribution and possession. The other three were also booked on possession charges.
