ST. GEORGE — Police arrested a California man Tuesday in connection with a Washington City pharmacy burglary when he showed up at a tow yard trying to retrieve a vehicle that police say was used in the crime.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information Wednesday in 5th District Court charging Desmond Pierre Carson, 29, of Carson, California, with one third-degree felony count of evading police, a third-degree felony count of burglary of a nondwelling and a third-degree felony criminal mischief, $1,500 to $5,000.
He is also charged with one class A misdemeanor count of conspiracy and two class B misdemeanor counts – one for drug possession and one for possession of paraphernalia in connection with packages of marijuana police found, according to court records.
Bail was set at $15,000, and Carson remains in custody at the writing of this report.
The car was initially located by police during a search for two possible accomplices after the Sept. 10 burglary was interrupted by police, Washington City Police spokesman Ed Kantor said.
Read more: 3rd burglary at Stucki Pharmacy interrupted; 1 arrested, 2 possibly at large
Officers were dispatched to Stucki Family Pharmacy on West Telegraph Street, Washington, at 2:45 a.m. after an alarm was activated inside the store, Kantor said in an earlier interview with St. George News.
They arrested Lashaun Montrey Kelly, 27, of Long Beach, California, as he was attempting to flee the store using the rear exit door.
Officers began searching for Kelly’s accomplices who fled through the front exit while he was being arrested behind the store. The search continued for several hours.
Police located a car parked near the pharmacy that had been reported stolen out of California, Kantor said, and was believed to have been used by the suspects in the burglary.
The vehicle was impounded and held at the tow yard when Carson went to retrieve it.
He was arrested and interviewed at the Police Department before being transported to Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Sunday’s burglary was the third to be reported at Stucki Family Pharmacy in less than one month.
Read more: Police ask public’s help identifying 3 suspects in alleged pharmacy burglary in Washington City
The first occurred Aug. 16 when three individuals entered the store by forcing open the entrance, taking prescription medication and cash, then fleeing the store.
The store was broken into again Sept. 3.
Read more: Washington City pharmacy hit twice in 3 weeks; police seek public’s help
While the second incident was almost identical to the first, Laura Stucki told St. George News that the store’s security program and systems had been enhanced after the August burglary, a move that proved effective with minimal loss reported in the second break-in.
Nothing was taken from the pharmacy during Sunday’s burglary, but the store sustained about $2,000 in damages to two exterior entrance doors, multiple interior doors and drawers, and an alarm panel, according to court documents.
Police are looking for the third accomplice as the investigation into the incident continues.
“Investigators have not confirmed a link between the three incidents at this time, but there’s still quite a bit to do before we know more,” Kantor said.
Washington City detectives were assisted by multiple officers from the St. George Police Department who responded to the tow yard to assist in case Carson attempted to flee, St. George Police Public Information Officer Lona Trombley said.
This report is based on statements from police or other emergency 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.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
Booking photo of Desmond Pierre Carson of Carson, California, Washington County, Utah, Sept. 12, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News Booking photo of Lashaun Montrey Kelly of Long Beach, California, taken Sunday, Washington County, Utah, Sept. 10, 2017 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News File photo of area behind Stucki Family Pharmacy where officers arrested Lashaun Montrey Kelly as he allegedly fled the store through the rear exit door Sunday morning, File photo of surveillance footage inside Stucki Family Pharmacy on West Telegraph Street during a burglary earlier this month, Washington City, Utah, Sept. 3, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Ed Kantor, St. George News
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.
Black people, really? They must be selling oxy’s to white people. I’ve not ever met a black pill popper. I thought oxy’s were a white people thing
maybe they take them and trade them for crack? lmao. LBA, u gonna have the attack crew callin u a racist just like rob83 with his mexicans. lol. maybe these blacks take the oxy’s and sell them to the mexicans, and the mexicans take those and sell them to whites and then the mexicans go run meth over the border and sell that to the whites and then trade the blacks crack for more oxies. its the circle of life.
Lol…thanks for the diversion of heat on little ole ladybug ?
Diversity.
Really?! Can you be anymore stupid than to try to retrieve a stolen car that you just used in a burglary? Idiots! Glad they’re off our streets.
“Hey, you know that stolen car the cops sent here? I want it back!”
Some people are just a waste of oxygen. smh
Leave the car there at impound, the third suspect is on his way over to get it. Give em a badge, Americas Dumbest criminal.
They look like clean-cut California tourists that made a wrong turn in life, and just need a ride back home. Give them ten (10) years and free ticket home.