ST. GEORGE — Three suspects reportedly tied to a string of crimes across Washington County are in jail, thanks in part to a hiker who called 911.

Shortly after 11:30 a.m. on June 28, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Snow Canyon State Park on a report of a vehicle burglary in progress. 

A man returning from a hike reportedly said he witnessed suspicious activity in the parking lot near the trailhead and called the police. The caller reported hearing a car alarm going off and saw three men standing next to a blue Ford Explorer.

Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lucas Alfred told St. George News that after making the call, the hiker started filming the suspects with his cellphone. The three men eventually got into the Ford and drove off. 

While deputies were en route to the call, an officer with the Santa Clara Ivins Police Department was asked to check the south entrance to the park in hopes of possibly intercepting the suspects.

One of the responding deputies encountered the Ford at the park’s north entrance and turned to follow it. The Ford then turned into the White Rocks trailhead parking lot, where the deputy conducted a traffic stop, according to charging documents filed with the court. 

Meanwhile, the Santa Clara-Ivins officer tasked with checking the south entrance of the park was flagged down by an individual who said a suitcase and passports were stolen out of their vehicle, which was parked at one of the trailheads. 

Deputies then learned of another vehicle burglary reported at Snow Canyon State Park three days before when a credit card was taken from the vehicle. Police say the suspects attempted to use the stolen card at a local retailer in St. George. Upon arriving at the store, police were notified that the suspects were driving a blue Ford Explorer.

That same SUV was also spotted heading north on Interstate 15 into Utah earlier that same evening. 

Police received a third report involving “a group of three” suspects who were “breaking into vehicles” parked near the Butterfly trailhead of Snow Canyon State Park and were last seen leaving the area in a blue Ford Explorer with California license plates.

A registration check of the tags indicated the Ford was a rental out of California.

Armed with a warrant, deputies say they searched the Ford and recovered multiple items, including several iPads purchased from two local big-box retailers, several credit cards, purses, wallets, luggage and multiple receipts for items purchased using credit cards stolen during two different vehicle burglaries reported in Washington County.   

The receipts and other property recovered from the Ford led deputies to contact officers in St. George who were investigating a car burglary reported earlier that same day. 

The report states that the individual in that case told police her vehicle had been broken into in the parking lot of the Canyons Softball Complex sometime between 7:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. that same morning. 

Shortly thereafter, she received several text alerts from her credit card company advising that six credit card transactions were attempted at two different stores in Washington City.

It was only after receiving the notifications that she realized her wallet was missing. According to the report, more than $1,500 was charged to the credit cards, while another $3,990 in transactions were declined.

Officers from St. George responded to the scene off SR-18, where deputies say they found evidence related to the incident reported at the sports park.

The three suspects identified in these cases are Carlos Antonio Bustios-Bravo, 39, and Felipe Andres Bustios-Bravo, 27, who had identification issued out of Chile, and Guillermo Martinez-Castillo, 54, who was identified by his Puerto Rican driver’s license.

Alfred said the driver’s license is still being verified by law enforcement. 

The men were transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility on multiple charges, including one second-degree felony count each of pattern of unlawful activity and unlawful use of a credit card. Each also faces one count of criminal conspiracy, possession of burglary tools, unlawful use of a financial card and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, each a misdemeanor. 

The St. George Police Department filed additional charges in connection with the break-in reported at the sports complex. These charges include two second-degree felony counts of unlawful use of a financial card and pattern of criminal activity. The suspects also face four third-degree felony counts of unlawful acquisition of a financial card and one misdemeanor count each of vehicle burglary and theft. 

In total, the suspects each face seven felony charges and seven misdemeanors. 

The deputy also noted the characteristics of the crimes committed are “common tactics used by groups described nationally as South American Theft Groups.”

These groups have no ties to the local community and make a living by traveling from town to town for the sole purpose of committing crimes such as burglaries, the report states.

The suspects in this case were listed in the National Crime Information Center database as “possible national security threats,” and all were found with a significant amount of cash, leaving detectives to suspect they would likely flee the jurisdiction if released. Based on those factors, the deputy requested the suspects be held without bail, citing that all three were involved in “a consistent pattern of criminal activity.” 

The request was approved, and all three men remain in custody without bail. 

Alfred noted the hiker’s efforts that helped officers in the investigation.

“We are thankful to those who see something and say something,” Alfred said.

Alfred said this case serves as a reminder to hikers, visitors and outdoor recreationists to lock vehicles before heading out on one of the trails. Valuable items should be kept at home whenever possible, or at least hidden and out of view.

These steps can mitigate the risk of becoming a victim of theft and car burglaries. 

This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders 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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