ST. GEORGE — A traffic stop ended with the arrest of two men, one of whom was found to be wanted out of Oregon on a $100,000 fugitive warrant, while the driver faces felony distribution and evading charges.
On Sunday, two officers were watching traffic near the Port of Entry when they spotted a Mercedes registered to Jeremy Daniel Perkins, 44, of Washington City, who was reportedly involved in a pursuit with officers in Hurricane in February. The officers proceeded to conduct a traffic stop near mile marker 1.
Washington County authorities say they received a tip stating that Perkins was in Las Vegas, Nevada, purchasing narcotics and possibly firearms and would be heading back to Southern Utah driving the Mercedes, according to charging documents filed in support of the arrests.
During the traffic stop, Perkins, who was driving the Mercedes, reportedly refused to exit the car despite multiple commands and then pulled back onto northbound I-15.
After traveling 30 yards or so, Perkins pulled over and came to a stop. He “eventually” complied and exited the car, along with the passenger, 50-year-old Carl John Racker, of Ogden, and police detained both, the report states.
Perkins reportedly told officers he pulled back on the interstate because Racker had a warrant, which the passenger later confirmed.
A K-9 officer was deployed to conduct an exterior sniff around the vehicle and after the presence of narcotics was indicated, the Mercedes was searched.
Officers say they found a bag containing suspected heroin and paraphernalia inside the car, as well as a rifle and ammunition, which Perkins was prohibited from having as a convicted felon.
Perkins told officers the bag, gun and ammunition did not belong to him, nor did he notice the gun when he put his bag in the trunk, the report states.
During a records check, officers learned that Racker’s warrant was issued out of Oregon and listed as extraditable out of all 50 states. The bail on the warrant was set at $100,000 and was the third to be issued out of Oregon on the same case, the first of which was in March 2023. He was arrested during a traffic stop on state Route 59 in Hildale and was held in Washington County on a fugitive complaint.
The out-of-state warrant was issued in connection with an investigation by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office in Prineville, Oregon, where Racker faced nine charges, including a first-degree felony count of aggravated theft and six second-degree charges – five counts of criminal mischief and one count of criminal trespass and two counts of possession of burglary tools.
After spending a month in jail in Washington County, he was released and ordered to appear in Oregon on the warrant.
Less than three months later, officers in Springdale were notified that Racker had returned to Utah and was staying at a residence in the area, and he was taken into custody by police. In August, Oregon officials advised Racker would not be extradited, the fugitive complaint was dismissed and he was released from custody.
Following Sunday’s arrest, Racker is again being held on the Oregon warrant as well as additional charges that were filed Monday in Washington County, including one third-degree felony count for prohibited use of an identification card and misdemeanor drug and paraphernalia charges.
Perkins was booked into jail facing first-degree felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, second-degree felony weapons charge and third-degree felony evading. He made an initial appearance in 5th District Court on Monday. A review hearing is scheduled for Friday. He remains in jail without bail.
On Tuesday, Perkins faced further charges including felony evading in connection with a pursuit in Hurricane on Feb. 14, when the suspect reportedly fled from officers at more than 100 mph in a 55 mph posted speed zone. While the suspect got away, the charges were added following his arrest over the weekend on I-15.
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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