ST. GEORGE – A St. George man was arrested Thursday on drug distribution and other charges by the Washington County Drug Task Force.
The task force had developed information that Joseph John Butkovich, 55, of St. George, was possibly involved in drug trafficking and obtained search warrants for his vehicle and place of residence, St. George Capt. Kyle Whitehead said.
Members of the task force watched Butkovich’s home and were able to make a positive identification once he left the home and got into his vehicle. After leaving the residence, task force detectives pulled Butkovich over. He was shown the search warrant and given his Miranda rights. Butkovich was cooperative with the detectives and told them he had methamphetamine in the vehicle and was on his way to sell it. He also told officers there was more methamphetamine at his residence, Whitehead said.
A distributable amount of suspected methamphetamine was found in Botkovich’s vehicle. The task force found additional methamphetamine, along with a scale, baggies, a wooden pipe, and alprazolam and hydrocodone, according to the probable cause statement. Butkovich told detectives he did not have a prescription for the medications.
Butkovich was arrested and booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility for first-degree felony drug distribution, second-degree felony drug possession, and three class-A misdemeanors for drug possession and paraphernalia.
“The charges have been enhanced due to Butkovich being within 1,000 feet of a church, which is considered a ‘drug-free zone,’” Whitehead said.
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