Police Log: Man found asleep in stalled, running vehicle; machetes, knives stolen in string of vehicle burglaries

A Summit County Sheriff vehicle. Photo: TownLift // Rayne Moynahan

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Here’s a look at some of this week’s stories from the police and sheriff’s logs.

Sunday, November 13

DUI, Open Container, No Insurance, Never Obtaining UT DL.

While patrolling in Coalville on Sunday, Summit County Sheriff Deputies noticed a black Totoya Highlander was stalled in the eastbound lane. The driver of the vehicle, a 26-year-old Coalville man, was asleep in the driver’s seat with the vehicle running and still shifted in drive.

Deputies made contact with the driver and determined he was under the influence of alcohol. There were many open containers of alcohol present in the vehicle. The man was placed under arrest and transported to Summit County Jail.

Saturday, November 12

Vehicle Burglary

Five vehicle burglaries occurred sometime between November 10 and 12. There were no cameras in the area, and no suspects were identified in either case. There was no sign of forced entry into any of the vehicles.

Two of those burglaries occurred in Bear Hollow Village, where the vehicles were broken into, and property was taken from each. The complainant stated that neither vehicle was locked at the time.

Two other incidents occurred in Kimball Junction, both at Powderwood Condominiums. A truck was broken into at Powderwood, in which the complainant stated the glove compartment was ransacked. The complainant believes that his Masamoto knife set was taken during the incident. In a separate incident, the complainant stated his truck was broken into, the glove compartment was ransacked, and a machete was stolen from under the seat.

One more report came from an incident off Liberty Peak Lane. The complainant stated her husband’s wallet was stolen, containing his driver’s license, workforce card, and two financial cards. It is believed that the vehicle was locked at the time.

Recovered Property and “Plate Swap”

A sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop near State Road 224 and Newpark after discovering the vehicle’s license plate was listed as stolen. Following further investigation, it was found that the driver was a victim of a “plate swap” in which his original rear plate was recently stolen while in Salt Lake City and then replaced with a different stolen plate.

The Salt Lake City Police Department was notified, and the driver was referred to SLCPD to file a stolen property report for his original license plate. The recovered stolen plate was unlisted by SLCPD.