ST. GEORGE – The Washington County Drug Task Force arrested two men on drug distribution charges in unrelated cases Thursday.
According to a probable cause statement, Task Force officers pulled over David Paul Peralta II, 39, of St. George, after one of the officers observed him throw a cigarette out of his car window. Peralta was advised by one of the officers he was being cited for littering. During the exchange the officer had Peralta exit the vehicle and talk to him. While speaking with the man, the Task Force had their K-9 unit sniff around the vehicle. The K-9 made positive indications that narcotics were in the vehicle. The officer asked Peralta what was in the vehicle and he said it was marijuana.
A search of the vehicle found a substance believed to be marijuana in a mouthguard case. The Task Force next obtained a search warrant for a motel room associated with Peralta, St. George Police Capt. Kyle Whitehead said. While searching the room they discovered what is described as a distributable amount of methamphetamine and two hand guns.
Peralta was arrested and booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility on two second-degree felony weapon offenses, one second-degree drug distribution offense, and three misdemeanors related to drug possession and littering. Bail was set at $200,000.
According to probable cause statements, Anthony Bradley Slater, 21, of St. George was originally arrested by Washington City Police officers Wednesday for two second-degree felony counts of drug possession and a class-B misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge. This arrest also stemmed from a vehicle being pulled over for traffic offense.
In an unrelated case, the Washington County Drug Task Force conducted a controlled buy via a confidential informant who identified Slater as the alleged seller. He was subsequently charged with first-degree felony drug distribution for methamphetamine Thursday. Bail for the original charges stands at $30,398. The Task Force added $20,000 for drug distribution offense.
Persons charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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