CEDAR CITY — Three suspected drug traffickers recently were arrested in Iron County following two similar but unrelated traffic stops made a few hours apart.
The first incident reportedly occurred at approximately 1 p.m. on Jan. 9 when an Iron County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a driver for failing to signal. The traffic stop took place just north of Cedar City, on northbound Interstate 15 near Exit 63.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Joseph Brent Vigil, 39, was “visibly shaking” during the traffic stop, the arresting officer wrote in the probable cause affidavit filed in support of Vigil’s arrest.
“During the course of the stop, I observed a red straw in the center console which appeared to have a burnt end, a butane torch, an odor eliminator and several used hypodermic needles,” the deputy wrote. “When asked about the insurance of the vehicle, (he) stated he needed to call the guy who sent him.”
A subsequent probable-cause search of the vehicle reportedly yielded three plastic bags containing approximately 3-5 pounds of a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine, along with other drugs and paraphernalia.
Vigil reportedly told officers he was on his way to deliver the drugs to a dealer in Richfield. According to the affidavit, Vigil allegedly had just finished dropping off a large quantity of methamphetamine in Cedar City to be distributed.
Vigil was taken into custody and later booked into Iron County Jail on suspicion of multiple charges, including two counts of felony drug possession, misdemeanor counts of DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without insurance and failure to signal, an infraction.
The second arrest occurred just after 4 p.m. the afternoon of Jan. 9 when am Iron County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a vehicle for speeding at 114 mph on northbound I-15 a few miles south of Cedar City, near mile marker 54.
The vehicle, a black Mercedes with temporary Nevada tags, was being driven by a woman identified as Ida Marie Dotson, 51. Neither she nor her passenger, identified as Andrew Thomas Morris, 32, had a valid driver’s license, according to the affidavits filed in support of their arrests.
A subsequent search of the vehicle and its occupants reportedly yielded seven clear plastic baggies containing a total of 104 grams of a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine, plus one baggie containing 8 grams of black tar heroin, a glass bong, a pipe, scales and other paraphernalia.
Both Dotson and Morris were later booked into Iron County Jail on suspicion of multiple drug charges. Dotson also faces misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Although Dotson remained in jail as of Wednesday, Morris has since been released on a $1,000 unsecured bond. Both are scheduled to make their next scheduled court appearances on Jan. 24 before 5th District Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen.
In the other unrelated case, Vigil made his initial court appearance on Jan. 11 and was released from jail the following week after promising to abide by certain court-imposed conditions, including GPS monitoring. His next scheduled appearance is a waiver hearing on Feb. 7 before 5th District Judge Matthew L. Bell.
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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