ST. GEORGE – Two people were arrested on multiple drug and weapons charges Wednesday after the Washington County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a St. George residence. A third person was arrested on possession charges in connection with the incident.
According to the probable cause statement filed in conjunction with the arrests, the task force entered a home at Red Rock Road in St. George on the authority of a search warrant and made contact with Keven Ernest Jones, 53, and Kitty Karlene Dirickson, 52, both of St. George.
The Washington County Drug Task Force has been investigating Jones and Dirickson’s involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Washington County area, a statement issued by St. George Police Department Thursday stated. Task Force Detectives obtained evidence of methamphetamine sales associated with the couple, the statement said.
The investigation came to a head Wednesday, St. George Police said in its statement, when the Washington County Drug Task Force, with assistance from the St. George Police Department tactical team, executed the search warrant at Jones and Dirickson’s residence, 861 N Red Rock Road, Unit 15, in St. George.
“… Jones and Jason Axley (age 46) were stopped in a vehicle that had left the Redrock Rd address,” St. George Police statement said. “Contraband, a container used for transporting illicit drugs, was discovered during a search of the vehicle. Keven and Jason were arrested.”
Following the traffic stop, St. George Police said, the search warrant was served at Jones and Dirickson’s address.
Task force members searched the home and found six firearms, along with substances suspected to be methamphetamine and marijuana. Associated drug paraphernalia was also found, according to the statement. Approximately $1,000 and records indicating drug transactions were also located during the search, according to the St. George Police statement.
Prior to execution of the warrant, the statement said, the detective who wrote the report noted seeing children between the ages of 3-7 enter the home. He also noted the firearms and alleged narcotics and paraphernalia were readily accessible to anyone in the home, including the children.
Both Jones and Dirickson were charged with six second-degree felony counts of firearms in the possession of restricted persons, one second-degree felony count of drug possession with intent to distribute, one third-degree felony count of child endangerment, and three class-B misdemeanors for drug possession and paraphernalia.
Dirickson has also been charged with three additional second-degree felony drug distribution charges related to controlled buys of suspected methamphetamine made by the task force in previous months.
Jones was also charged with two additional counts of second-degree drug distribution of suspected methamphetamine.
Both were arrested and booked into the Washington County’s Purgatory Correctional Facility. Bail stands at $200,000 each.
Axley was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Adult Probation and Parole placed a 72 hour hold on Mr. Axley following his booking.
Persons charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
UPDATED 5:29 p.m. Additional details have been added to this report, per statement published by St. George Police Department. Among the additions, the arrest of Jason Axley.
Email: mkessler@stgnews.com
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
What’s wrong with having guns in the house? Did they have too few guns? What an outrage to take their guns away! This is Utah where you have rights to have guns!
It said their guns were accessible to the children, that is the problem, also if they have prior felonies they cannot own a gun.
76-10-503 (1)(b) (iv) A Category II restricted person is a person who: is in possession of a dangerous weapon and is knowingly and intentionally in unlawful possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance. (methamphetamine )
76-10-503(3)(a) A Category II restricted person who purchases, transfers, possesses, uses, or has under the person’s custody or control any firearm is guilty of a third degree felony.
If you are going to run your mouth about rights and laws, know what you are talking about at least. You cant have guns & drugs.
Dude, that’s a restrictive gun law. It makes Jesus, the founding fathers, and the NRA sad. More weapons = more safety. I’m sure their previous felonies were a bum wrap and you can’t prove otherwise. Better to err on the side of MORE guns. Druggies need to defend their kids too.
You don’t get to decide what I can and can’t do. If I am a responsible adult and I’m not creating a problem for someone else, then I can do what I need to do. Our wonderful government has run more illegal drugs and guns than anyone. I’m talking about the Iran Contra scandal and the the fast and furious scandal among so many others. Our government is full of criminals and thus defacto; so now it’s my responsibility to govern myself. Not yours, not theirs, mine.
Woot Woot! More guns for any and all! It’s all about the individual’s right to bear arms and screw everyone else. That’s what made this country great — self centered perspectives and a disregard for how one’s personal actions affects anyone else. Quod tantum est in me.
Utah–Concealed Carry Poster Child where more time is spent scrutinizing cigarettes than guns and gun holders.
Go figure
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/12/gun-law-concealed-carry-permit-utah-101113.html?hp=t1_3