By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Thanks to the help of several law enforcement
agencies, there were a number of arrests made during Easter
weekend at the Little Sahara Sand Dunes.
Juab County Sheriff Alden Orme said there were 14
illegal open alcohol container citations made. In Utah, it
is illegal for anyone to have an open container of alcohol
in a vehicle, he said. This year, there were 32 warnings
issued for open container violation.
"The crowd was one of the largest in recent years with
more than 35,000 people at the site during the Easter
holiday," said Orme. "But thanks to extra law enforcement
man-power, violators were cited and problems were kept under
control."
"There was one individual arrested for disorderly
conduct," said Orme. There were 31 warnings issued for the
same offense.
There were 100 illegal consumption citations issued.
It is against the law for anyone age 21 or less to consume
alcohol in Utah.
At Little Sahara Sand Dunes, it is against the law for
anyone to have any sort of glass container on the sand. The
potential of someone being seriously injured by broken glass
hidden in the sand is high, Orme said.
There were nine people who received tickets for that
violation but there were 135 warnings issued to those who
had glass containers on the sand.
"There were eight arrests made for illegal possession
or consumption of drugs," he said.
There were no warning citations for drugs. If anyone
was caught with drugs, they were arrested.
Four speeding citations were written, 40 warnings were
issued and another 60 citations were issued for traffic
violations.
"There were nine warning tickets given for public
lewdness," said Orme.
One person was arrested for resisting a police
officer.
Thirty arrests were made for Driving Under the
Influence (DUI) of Alcohol and two people were arrested for
contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Three
individuals were issued warning citations for contributing
to the delinquency of a minor.
One drug overdose was reported and that case required
extensive medical attention. There was also one case of
domestic abuse reported.
One vehicle was reported stolen and one vehicle,
stolen last year, was recovered this year.
There were six equipment volitions and there were 25
warnings issued. Some of those violations which were given
warnings were for things like missing warning flags on
ATVs.
"We had Utah Highway Patrol Officers from all over the
state who came to help us during the Easter weekend," said
Orme.
Officers from the Department of Motor Vehicle
Enforcement Division, from the Department of Public Safety,
from the Federal Bureau of Investigations agents stationed
in Utah, and officers from Adult Probation and Parole who
are members of the Utah State Department of Corrections.
The Utah Department of Corrections at Gunnison had
their canine crew on hand.
In addition there were Law Enforcement Officers from
the State Parks Division, from the Bureau of Land Management
Division, and BLM employees who are season workers at Little
Sahara.
Officers from Nephi City, Deputies from the Juab
County Sheriff's Office, and Juab County Search and Rescue
officers, the West Juab Ambulance, and BLM fire crews.
Air Med stayed at the site on Sunday after being
called out nine times on Saturday. There were a total of 11
victims sent by Air Med to state hospitals for treatment of
serious to critical injuries during the holiday.
"Dispatch Centers in Richfield, Salt Lake County, and
from the Motor Vehicles Department, and our county dispatch
center all assisted," said Orme.
Officers will be called on to help at the recreation
site on all the big holidays remaining.
"Those which have, in the past, attracted large crowds
are Memorial Day, Labor Day and UEA weekend," said Orme.
He said law enforcement will be on hand for each of
those holidays to maintain order at the site.
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