CEDAR CITY — Cedar City Police arrested two men following a routine traffic stop. One of the suspects allegedly fought with officers at the scene and a taser was deployed by the arresting officer.
On Monday afternoon, 38-year-old John Williams was taken into custody and booked into Iron County Jail, allegedly becoming physical with officers during a routine traffic stop. Zackry Ross, 37, who was driving the vehicle and reportedly attempted to flee the scene, also was taken into custody.
At approximately 3:47 p.m., officers attempted to pull over a red minivan with a broken passenger tail light when the driver fled south at high speed, according to Ross’s probable cause statement, written by officer Devin Mackelprang. He turned around and later stopped in a driveway at 300 N. 800 West.
The house in question was abandoned, police Sgt. Justin Ludlow told Cedar City News.
Ross exited the vehicle and complied with the officer’s commands, Mackelprang wrote, adding that the minivan was not insured. Ross told the officer that he fled the police for this reason.
Williams, who had been seated in the passenger’s seat, reportedly was “verbally noncompliant,” according to his probable cause statement.
“I told him multiple times that he had to come with me, which he kept telling me no and began backing up away from me,” Mackelprang wrote. “As I stepped forward to take him into custody, he backed away and began balling up his fists and placed his feet in a fighter’s stance.”
Mackelprang and another officer attempted to detain Williams, who pulled away and “swung fists” at them.
The officers tased Williams and took him into custody, Ludlow said, adding that the man was later evaluated at Intermountain Cedar City Hospital for medical clearance and reportedly did not receive any injuries.
There were no reports of officers being injured during the arrest, Ludlow said.
While at the hospital, Williams allegedly yelled profanities at the nursing staff and continued to do so after officers asked him to stop, Mackelprang wrote.
During an inventory of the minivan, officers found a backpack on the passenger side with Williams’ identification and a box containing tinfoil and small plastic containers that held “a black tarry residue.” Mackelprang determined the substance and materials were heroin and heroin-use paraphernalia.
Additionally, while Ross was being booked, he admitted to having drugs in his socks, Mackelprang said. Officers found two small plastic bags containing a white, crystalized powder believed to be methamphetamine.
Williams was charged with one misdemeanor count of failure to stop at command of police, two misdemeanor counts of assault against a police officer and misdemeanor counts of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Ross faces one third-degree felony count of failure to stop at command of police, misdemeanor counts of drug possession and driving without insurance and a traffic infraction for the taillight violation.
Many of the charges “piled up” after the suspects reportedly fled the scene, Ludlow said.
“Cooperation goes a long way with police departments,” he said.
This report is based on statements from court documents and law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. 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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