K-9 Buster assists task force in felony firearm possession, drug arrest

ST. GEORGE – The Washington County Drug Task Force arrested a Junction man Thursday for felony drug possession and felony firearm possession.

Anthony Kraig Morrill of Junction, Utah, booking photo posted May 23, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Anthony Kraig Morrill of Junction, Utah, booking photo posted May 23, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Anthony Kraig Morrill, 31, was arrested and charged with one second-degree felony for drug possession, one third-degree felony for firearm possession and one class-A misdemeanor for drug possession and paraphernalia.

According to the probable cause statement filed in connection with the arrest, Detectives Hall and Matt Schuman began talking to two men standing outside of Motel 6, located at 1000 E. Red Hills Parkway in St. George. Schuman observed Morrill moving uncontrollably and twitching a lot.

Schuman asked the two men if they would provide him with their identifications so he could run them for warrants. The two men provided their identification cards. Hall performed a records check and an active warrant came back for Morrill’s arrest.

When Morrill did not consent to having his car searched, Schuman retrieved his certified narcotics K-9, Buster, and deployed him around Morrill’s car. The K-9 alerted to the trunk and a rear passenger door, to an illegal controlled substance being present.

“I informed Anthony my K-9 alerted to his vehicle and I was going to search it,” Schuman said in the statement. “I asked Anthony for his keys. Anthony handed me his keys and stated, ‘It’s in the trunk in the backpack.’”

In the backpack, Schuman located two pipes containing suspected methamphetamine, baggies, a digital scale and a Q-tip. Next to the backpack, Schuman discovered a loaded rifle.

Morrill admitted the drugs were his and that he uses methamphetamine regularly. Morrill also admitted the gun belonged to him and that he had knowledge it was loaded.

Morrill’s drug-related charges were enhanced one degree for being in a drug-free zone –  WeeWonder Preschool is located across the street from Motel 6 and within a few hundred feet.

Morrill was booked into Washington County’s Purgatory Correctional Facility. According to booking information, Morrill’s bail stands at $22,168.10.

Persons arrested or 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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