This past week two businesses in Spanish Fork have taken in four counterfeit $100 bills. The bills that were passed were of good quality. Many of the security features on these bills have been duplicated. There have also been similar bills passed in other cities throughout Utah County. Detective Matt Johnson is working these cases and has been in contact with the Secret Service who has jurisdiction over counterfeit bills.
June 22, 2005
Follow up on stolen tools. Detective John Jackson received an assignment to follow up on tools being stolen from a shop. Detective Jackson was able to determine who the suspects were and interviewed them. The suspects admitted to the theft. They indicated that they pawned the tools and used the money they obtained to pay their landlord rent. The male and female adult suspects will be referred to the Utah County Attorney for burglary.
June 13, 2005
At around 3:30am an Orem Police Officer was traveling through Spanish Fork and saw two suspicious males. When the males saw the officer they ran. Officer Trent Shepherd was called to the area to help search for the suspects. The first male was found with no further action needed by the officers with this male. With the help of a citizen who called in a suspicious male in their yard the second male was located. The male provided Officer Shepherd with a name and date of birth that was later found to be that of the suspects brother. Rylan Bigler of Payson was arrested for False Information to a Police Officer, Possession of Heroin, Methamphetamine and Paraphernalia, as well a warrant for his arrest. He was booked into Utah County Jail.
June 15, 2005
Near Drowning: At 1527 hours a near drowning took place at the Spanish Oaks Reservoir. The reservoir is located above Power House Road and near the Spanish Fork Gun Club. The reservoir was made in 2002 and filled in 2003. It has a surface area of 5 acres, a deepest point of 22 feet and is currently about 55 degrees in temperature. The water is used for the city pressurized irrigation system. The Division of Wildlife Resource stocks the reservoir with trout throughout the Spring and Summer months. A 24 year old male was swimming in the reservoir. He was near the center of the reservoir when for an unknown reason he could swim no longer. He began yelling for assistance and started to panic. His girlfriend who was on the shore yelled to others in the area for help. Brian Augustus heard the request for help and responded. Brian is from the Mapleton area and has worked as a life guard for four years. He along with his father entered the water and swam to the victim. The victim was pulled to shore where first aide was rendered. The victim did not require CPR as he was breathing but unconscious. The victim was transported to the Mountain View Hospital. During his transport the victim spoke with medical personnel and appears to be improving. The victim is from Spanish Fork. This was his first visit to the reservoir.
June 10, 2005
Follow up on storage shed burglary. Officer Justin Gordon recently took a report on a storage shed having several tools stolen from it. Officer Gordon received information from witnesses of the suspect’s description as well as a description of the vehicle they used. With this information Officer Gordon was able to determine that Shawn Nielsen of Spanish Fork was one of the three suspects that had been seen by the witness. Detectives John Jackson and Phil Nielsen assisted Officer Gordon in tracking down and interviewing Nielsen and two female suspects. Confessions were obtained from each suspect. Officers were able to recover the stolen tools at several pawn shops throughout Utah County. The suspect’s motive for stealing the tools was to obtain money to by illegal drugs.
June 2, 2005
During the early morning hours a business burglary took place at Stone Drug. An alarm at the business was set off and officers were dispatched to the scene. Officers Cade Harding, Chris Sheriff, Lance Rudd and Sergeant Brandon Anderson arrived at the business within 2 minutes of being dispatched. The scene was secured and the business searched. Officers found Jeremy Ferris, a 29 year old male from Spanish Fork, within the business. He was taken into custody without incident. Ferris was interviewed by Detective Matt Johnson where a confession of the burglary and his intention while in the business were made. Ferris was found to have a broken back from a fall he sustained while making entry into the business. Because of this injury he was taken to a hospital. He will receive a summons to court at a later date.
