Simple traffic stop leads to arrest of Indiana fugitive

CEDAR CITY – Utah Highway patrol arrested a wanted fugitive from Indiana Monday after stopping his vehicle for speeding.

Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Jason Tripodi was working on Interstate 15 Monday afternoon when he observed a vehicle traveling 90 mph in an 80 mph zone. Tripodi stopped the car around mile marker 97.

William Ray Brown, Fairland Indiana. July 15, 2014 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
William Ray Brown, Fairland Indiana, booking photo posted July 14, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

“The driver of the vehicle did not have a license in his possession,” Tripodi said. “He did identify himself as William Ray Brown, 22, Fairland Indiana. I had dispatch look him up by his name and date of birth.”

When dispatch pulled up Brown’s information, they found that he was a wanted fugitive from Shelby County, Indiana.

“He was wanted on a probation violation,” Tripodi said. “We contacted Shelby County, who informed us they would extradite Brown if Utah Highway Patrol did arrest.”

Tripodi arrested Brown at that point. Brown also admitted to Tripodi that he had been smoking marijuana earlier in the day.

After making the arrest, Tripodi located marijuana, methamphetamine, paraphernalia and a rifle in Brown’s possession.

Brown was transported and booked into the Iron County Jail on one third-degree felony charge of being a fugitive from justice, one third-degree felony charge for weapon possession by a restricted person, one third-degree felony charge for possession of a controlled substance, one class-B misdemeanor charge for possession of a controlled substance, one class-B misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia and one class-B misdemeanor charge for driving under the influence.

Tuesday afternoon, Iron County Correctional Facility confirmed that Brown was still incarcerated at their facility with a bail set at $15,000.

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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