By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
More than 50,000 people visited Juab County Easter
weekend and 30,000 of those visits were made to the Little
Sahara Sand Dunes in West Juab County.
"We expected the number we had, 30,000 people at the
Sand Dunes and another 50,000 who will be located at various
recreation sites throughout the county," said Juab County
Sheriff David Carter, "and thanks to the help of cooperating
law enforcement agencies, we were prepared."
Friday, the first day of the holiday, was fairly
smooth, said Carter, but Saturday was a different story.
"This was one of the busiest Saturdays we have had at
the Dunes since the late 1970s and early 1980s," he said.
"In 1977 or 1978, there were 67,000 visitors and the
situation was pretty wild."
Law enforcement was on-hand throughout the county at
recreation areas, all of which were heavily used.
There were more camps at Topaz Mountain than ever
before, said Carter. A brief search took Carter to the area
on Saturday. "I know I have never personally seen so many
camps at Topaz on any Easter holiday in the past."
There were also many camps at Joy, a ghost town, and
throughout the West Desert.
Nevertheless, Carter said, he was grateful that there
were no fatal accidents this Easter holiday.
This year there were a total of 21 people who were
taken to hospitals by West and East Juab Ambulance
Association Emergency Medical Technicians.
"All but two of those ambulance runs occurred on
Saturday," said Carter. "Seven additional accident victims
were transported by medical helicopter."
A medical helicopter, Classic Life Guard from Lake
Powell, was stationed at the Dunes for just such a reason.
The helicopter company, affiliated with Air Med, was a
useful tool during the holiday.
"At one point we had three ambulances and two
helicopters&emdash;one was Air Med&emdash;transporting
accident victims from different accidents all at the same
time."
Another 20 individuals were treated at the Visitor's
Center by Juab County EMTs and were then transported by
private vehicle to medical centers.
Juab County Ambulance Association Emergency Medical
Technician crews were on-hand at the visitor's around the
clock, as they have been in year's past.
"I can't express enough how pleased I am that my
office had so much support from different agencies this year
than have ever worked with us before," he said.
There were six extra Utah Highway Patrol officers at
the Dunes throughout the holiday. There were also six agents
with the Department of Liquor Law, eight officers with the
state Motor Vehicle Department, and three officers from the
Nephi City Police Department.
"Officers from the different agencies were more
helpful than they have ever been," said Carter. "They went
on foot through the crowds along with my deputies. I credit
the extra man-power with keeping the large parties and
crowds in control."
The local police and UHP troopers worked all evening
and until 5 a.m. to keep conditions from becoming volatile.
Large parties were kept from gathering and becoming
uncontrollable.
"For the first time I remember, the UHP Sergeant,
Lieutenant, and Captain were at the site all at the same
time and the Captain went right into the crowds with us and
stayed most of the night."
At least eight of his deputies and four to six Juab
County Search and Rescue Sheriff's Unit members worked each
shift.
Deputies from Millard County were also be available to
help as they were needed. A UHP airplane was made available
to assist with law enforcement and search and rescue
efforts.
The Juab County Sheriff's Office dispatchers handled
most of the calls coming to the center and performed license
checks via computer as they normally do. In cases of
overload, however, the Richfield office was glad to
assist.
"We kept an extra man on duty at the Juab County
Public Safety Building (at the jail)," said Carter. "The
jail was kept busy, especially on Saturday."
Quite a few tickets were written on Friday but the
majority of arrests were made on Saturday, said Carter.
"We had 160 arrests made for illegal consumption and
possession of alcohol by under-age drinkers," said
Carter.
Carter said 14 individuals were arrested for DUI,
seven arrests for providing false information to a police
officer, two arrests for public intoxication, four arrests
for disorderly conduct and two arrests for evading a peace
officer.
There were 13 arrests of juvenile minors for
possession and use of tobacco, 22 open-container violations
including those on 4-wheel vehicles, and five controlled
substance arrests.
"Another 427 citations were issued for registration
violations, no whip flags, and safety violations of all
sorts on both cars and recreation vehicles."
There were 55 speeding citations, four citations for
glass containers on the sand, and one criminal mischief
arrest, one arrest on a FTA warrant, and 10 arrests for
assault.
One person was arrested for having a false or altered
VIN number on an ATV.
One cow was shot at the Dunes, said Carter.
In addition, eight guns were seized, one assault with
a gun and one assault involving knives were made. "The
weapons were used in a threatening manner," said Carter,
"but no injuries were reported."
However, two people were kicked so violently in
assaults that they needed to be transported for medical care
and another person was hit in the head with a shovel.
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