A 28-year-old man with autism was reported missing near Alexander Lake over the weekend. His family hadn’t seen him in five hours.

The family had searched for the man for some time before contacting Summit County Search and Rescue around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday. Crews were dispatched and volunteers immediately began looking in the area, according to a report from the Sheriff’s Office.

Search and Rescue volunteers later found the man about a mile from the campsite. He had made a “fairly large fire” using a slash pile to keep warm. The crew kept the blaze contained until firefighters arrived to extinguish it with the proper equipment, the report said.

The man was transported back to his camp. He was reunited with his family in good health.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to several other calls between Monday, Aug. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 1, including reports of driving under the influence, active warrants and drugs.

Saturday, Aug. 31

A vehicle was stopped near the outlet mall for a traffic violation. The car was searched and drugs were found inside. A woman was arrested. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies were dispatched to a domestic incident at a Canyons Village hotel. A man reported he and his girlfriend got into a verbal argument and she left intoxicated. Deputies found the car and conducted a traffic stop. The woman smelled strongly of alcohol and a standardized field sobriety test was initiated. She performed poorly and was arrested for suspected drunk driving.

Friday, Aug. 30

Deputies attempted to stop a gray sedan in a gas station parking lot near S.R. 224 for not displaying its registration. The driver fled the scene and began traveling westbound on Interstate 80. Deputies lost sight of the car because of traffic and terminated the pursuit.

A car was stopped on I-80. A K9 indicated narcotics were present. Deputies found small amounts of fentanyl, heroin and meth. Two people were arrested on multiple charges. The car was impounded.

Deputies found a car with active warrants near Silver Creek. The driver was asked to provide identification, which matched the wanted man. He was arrested and transported to the Summit County Jail without incident.

A vehicle with a cracked windshield was observed at a Silver Springs gas station. Deputies checked the attached records and learned the registered owner had an active warrant. The car was stopped and the driver was identified as the wanted individual. He was taken into custody for the warrant and issued a citation for driving without a valid license. He was taken to the Summit County Jail without incident.

Thursday, Aug. 29

A traffic stop was conducted for an equipment violation in Pinebrook. Deputies smelled alcohol coming from the driver during the stop. The driver performed poorly on a standardized field sobriety test. Chemical tests were administered at the Sheriff’s Office. The driver was arrested for suspected DUI.

Deputies were dispatched to an injury accident in Summit Park. The vehicle left the roadway and traveled down the hillside.

Tuesday, Aug. 27

An individual reported that their family had not returned from a camping trip in the Washington Lake area and that they were not answering their phones. Deputies searched several campgrounds and trailheads but could not find the car. Search and Rescue was notified and initiated a “cell phone ping.” The campers then reached out to the individual to say they had returned.

Deputies stopped a vehicle on Interstate 80 for multiple moving violations. The driver performed poorly on a standardized field sobriety test and admitted to taking opiates before driving. The man was arrested and taken to the Summit County Jail.

A vehicle was stopped on Old Highway 40 after deputies discovered there were active warrants for speeding and driving without a license attached to it. A woman was driving the car at the time of the traffic stop, and she was identified as the individual with active warrants. She was transported to the Summit County Jail without incident.

Monday, Aug. 26

Deputies approached a vehicle parked in Kimball Junction after learning the registered owner had an active warrant. A narcotics K9 was deployed and indicated drugs were present. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a small amount of meth and heroin. The driver and a passenger were arrested.

Search and Rescue received a call about an overdue hunter who was reported near Henry’s Fork. Deputies searched the area and located the hunter’s car. The man later contacted family saying he was fine and also followed up with Summit County Dispatch to say he didn’t need assistance.

An abandoned vehicle was reported near Canyons Village. Deputies checked the car and learned it had been reported stolen. The registered owner was notified.

The post Sheriff’s Report: Search and Rescue finds autistic man near Alexander Lake appeared first on Park Record.

Kouri Richins, the Kamas mother of three charged with administering a lethal dose of fentanyl to her husband, is scheduled to go to trial for his alleged murder in May 2025.

Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik on Tuesday afternoon ruled the Summit County Attorney’s Office had presented enough evidence in the two-day preliminary hearing to determine probable cause exists, allowing the trial to proceed next year.

The judge’s ruling was based on information provided in the court docket, witness statements and expert testimony presented on Monday, during the first day of the hearing. Mrazik acknowledged there is a relatively low threshold to prove probable cause and bind someone for trial.

“These facts taken together would support the issuance of a search warrant to investigate whether Ms. Richins attempted to cause the death of her husband. They would support the issuance of an arrest warrant,” Mrazik explained.

Kouri pleaded not guilty to all 11 felonies she’s been charged with, including aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, distribution of a controlled substance, mortgage and insurance fraud as well as forgery.

“We are aware that the preliminary hearing stage favors the prosecution to an extraordinary degree and respect the court’s decision. We firmly believe the charges against Kouri do not withstand thorough scrutiny and are confident that a jury will find the same,” Nester Lewis said in a statement. 

Much of the discussion on Tuesday was centered around clarifying the charges and showing how the evidence supported each alleged crime. 

Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth described how the charges were linked, emphasizing that the case must be viewed from a wide angle domestic violence lens. He said evidence of the attempted homicide on Valentine’s Day in 2022 comes from Eric’s death 17 days later, as well as Kouri’s behavior before and after the event.

Bloodworth said prosecutors have proven Kouri procured fentanyl in early February and asked her source, who was a housekeeper she employed, for something stronger after the alleged poisoning didn’t work.

Prosecutors claim Kouri purchased fentanyl days before she picked up a sandwich they say she laced with the drug and fed to her husband. Later that morning, Kouri texted her paramour a screenshot of a navigation app indicating she was on her way to him.

While Kouri was away, Eric experienced a medical event. He texted his wife saying he didn’t feel well and considered going to a hospital. He then took a two-hour nap. Prosecutors have a statement from a toxicologist affirming Eric’s symptoms were consistent with consuming fentanyl. 

Kouri later lamented to her paramour that she wished Eric would “just go away.” Two weeks after Valentine’s Day, she told him life would be different. Eric died a few days later.

“She learned that was not the proper way to administer a fatal dose,” Bloodworth said of the Feb. 14 incident, connecting the attempt and homicide through motive and the takeaway.

Wendy Lewis and Kathryn Nester, defense attorneys representing Kouri, offered a different argument. They asked Mrazik to drop the attempted murder charge.

Nester said there is no evidence to support the charge based on the timeline of the day. She argued the couple ate breakfast together that morning, rather than separately, because the sandwich in question contained eggs.

Eric didn’t text Kouri that he was feeling sick until two hours after she left their home, which Nester said doesn’t support fentanyl poisoning. However, it was unclear whether Eric disclosed to Kouri that he hadn’t been feeling well before she left. 

The defense attorney noted Eric completed several tasks and errands throughout the day before and after he napped. She said there was no indication from Eric that he felt his life was in danger after eating the sandwich, and that there is an “innocent explanation” for everything that happened on Valentine’s Day.

Lewis added there’s no way to know for sure whether the housekeeper actually sold Kouri fentanyl because the pills were never found or tested.

Mrazik countered that the housekeeper, who is a drug court participant, likely knew the difference.

Kouri’s defense explained her texts about wanting Eric gone were a possible reference to divorce — not murder.

“This was not a perfect couple. They did not have a perfect relationship,” Nester said.

Mrazik was not convinced. He noted other texts between Kouri and her best friend in which Kouri lied about her location and what she had been doing that day, potentially indicating consciousness of guilt.

The judge also sought additional information about the financial charges against Kouri. 

Bloodworth described Kouri’s alleged scheme to profit off of Eric’s death. She submitted an application to take out a $100,000 life insurance policy on her husband in January 2022 that would take effect 10 days before the alleged attempted homicide. The filing listed Kouri’s business address and email as well as the wrong phone number for Eric, making it impossible to contact him.

The chief prosecutor affirmed there was sufficient evidence for probable cause, and Mrazik ultimately agreed. He said all claims were supported and emphasized that Kouri is presumed innocent.

“Our focus now is on ensuring that justice is served through a fair trial. We are committed to defending Kouri against these charges, firmly believing that the truth will prevail. These past 15 months have taken a heavy toll on Kouri and her three children. It’s time to bring this ordeal to an end, restore her life, and allow her and her family to move on,” Kouri’s defense team said.

Nester and Lewis anticipated a trial would last four weeks. One week of jury selection was scheduled in late April, with the trial to be held in May. Mrazik scheduled a pretrial conference on Sept. 23 to discuss additional details of the case, including submission deadlines and jury selection.

The process is expected to be challenging because of the media attention the case has acquired. Nester indicated the defense would file extraordinary circumstances for jury selection as the Third District Court relies on a virtual selection process. 

Mrazik encouraged both sides to start planning now.

The post Kouri Richins’ murder trial scheduled for May 2025 appeared first on Park Record.

A cyclist was taken to University of Utah hospital on Sunday after a crash.

Summit County deputies responded to an injury accident involving a motor vehicle and bicyclist near Jeremy Rach, according to a report from the Sheriff’s Office.

As the motor vehicle was navigating a left hand turn, the bicyclist collided with the passenger side of the vehicle. The cyclist sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Medical personnel took the individual to the University of Utah hospital for further care.

Deputies issued the vehicle driver a citation for improper turn and released them from incident scene.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to several other calls between Monday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 25, including reports of driving under the influence, warrants and a vehicle fire.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Deputies conducted a traffic stop for lane travel violations in Kimball Junction. During the stop, deputies saw indications of intoxication. They conducted a standardized field sobriety test, on which the driver performed poorly. Deputies arrested the driver for suspicion of driving under the influence. A highly intoxicated female passenger became belligerent with deputies and was arrested on multiple charges.

Wednesday. Aug. 21

Deputies conducted a traffic stop for expired temporary registration in Silver Springs, during which the driver admitted to having illegal drugs in the vehicle and on her person. The driver was arrested for possession and transported to the Summit County Jail without incident.

Tuesday, Aug. 20

Deputies responded to a report of domestic disturbance at a Kamas home. During the investigation, drug paraphernalia was observed in an involved parties’ bedroom. A search warrant was obtained for the bedroom. Deputies seized multiple items of paraphernalia and controlled substances. A number of firearms were also discovered during the search and were seized.

Summit County Search and Rescue was contacted regarding a stranded motorist in Shingle Creek off of S.R. 150. At shift change, Search and Rescue deployed resources and responded to assist the motorists.

Monday, Aug. 19

Search and Rescue was contacted regarding a group of stranded individuals whose off-highway vehicle had become stuck. The group was in good health and decided to hike out. Search and Rescue was monitoring the incident at shift change.

The post Sheriff’s Report: Cyclist taken to hospital after colliding with car appeared first on Park Record.

Kouri Richins will be in the Third District Court this week for a preliminary hearing to decide whether there’s enough evidence for her case to go to trial.

The courtroom was full when the second day of the hearing began around 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Park Record is providing live updates:

12:25 p.m.

Court is in recess.

12:15 p.m.

Lewis anticipates a four-week trial. It could be set during the last week in April and run through May. Jury selection would take one week and the other three would be reserved for the trial.

An initial pretrial conference will be held at 3 p.m. on Sept. 23 to discuss additional details of the case, including submittal deadlines and jury selection.

12:08 p.m.

Mrazik determined there is enough evidence to go to trial for the aggravated murder and attempted homicide charges. The financial crimes were also bound over.

Kouri entered pleas of not guilty for all 11 felony charges.

11:30 a.m.

Bloodworth is back with the last word. He addressed questions about merging some of the financial charges. He also said the speed at which Eric eats his eggs and if he went shopping before he felt ill doesn’t apply to the probable cause standard of the preliminary hearing.

The court has sufficient evidence for probable cause, the chief prosecutor said. He argued the standard is similar to whether a charge could be filed or a search warrant issued. In this case, Bloodworth said a judge would grant either.

The court is in recess until 11:50 a.m.

11:10 a.m.

Kathryn Nester, another defense attorney, said there is no evidence to support the attempted murder charge. She argued it’s critical to understand the timeline of Valentine’s Day.

Nester said it’s a fair assumption Eric would have eaten the sandwich before Kouri left for the day because it contained eggs. He didn’t text her that he felt sick until 11:30 a.m., which Nester said would have been too late for fentanyl poisoning. She also said there was no indication from Eric that he believed his life was in danger.

Nester said texts about wanting Eric gone could have been about divorce. “This was not a perfect couple. They did not have a perfect relationship,” she said.

10:55 a.m.

Defense attorney Wendy Lewis responds to the argument from the Summit County Attorney’s Office. 

Lewis said she thinks there needs to be more evidence, particularly for the distribution charges. The attorney argued the housekeeper believed she sold fentanyl, but the pills haven’t been found so they haven’t been tested. 

Mrazik rebutted that the housekeeper, who is a drug court participant, and likely knows the difference.

10:45 a.m.

Judge Richard Mrazik had questions about some of the felony financial charges against Kouri. Bloodworth explained the insurance fraud charge was a scheme to get money from a $100,000 life insurance policy on Eric. 

It started with a signed application in January 2022, which listed Kouri’s business address and email as well as an incorrect phone number for Eric. The policy took effect on Feb. 4, about 10 days before the alleged attempted homicide.

“Submitting that application begins the scheme, and the scheme continues through the false claim for the money,” Bloodworth said.

10:30 a.m.

Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth argues there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial. He’s detailing what prosecutors say was an attempt on Eric Richins’ life in February 2022. 

Bloodworth alleged Kouri laced a breakfast sandwich with fentanyl in an effort to kill Eric. He said all of the motives that existed for his death the next month also existed during the attempt on Valentine’s Day. When it didn’t work, prosecutors say Kouri asked her housekeeper for something stronger about two weeks later.

“The defendant learned from the attempt,” Bloodworth said.

The post Kouri Richins appears in court for second day of preliminary hearing appeared first on Park Record.

Summit County prosecutors on Monday laid the foundation to decide whether Kouri Richins will stand trial for the death of her husband. 

The Kamas mother of three appeared in a packed Third District Court on Monday morning for the first day of a multi-day preliminary hearing that will determine whether there’s enough evidence to proceed with the case. 

Kouri, 34, is accused of fatally poisoning Eric Richins, 39, in their family home with a fentanyl-laced Moscow mule in early March 2022. Kouri was arrested in May 2023 and faces 11 felonies including aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, distribution of a controlled substance, mortgage and insurance fraud as well as forgery.

The Summit County Attorney’s Office presented the court expert testimony supporting prosecutors’ theory that Kouri had financial motive to kill her husband while her defense team highlighted the flaws in the evidence with the goal of maintaining her innocence.

Sheriff’s Detective Jeff O’Driscoll was the first to take the stand. He outlined the steps investigators took to identify Kouri as the primary suspect in the case.

Defense attorney Wendy Lewis questioned the detective about initial searches on the home and subsequent interviews with Kouri. 

O’Driscoll described how a housekeeper who worked for the Richins family became a person of interest in the case after investigators discovered suspicious text messages between the woman and Kouri. The woman, who is a convicted felon, was arrested in April 2023 after investigators found drugs and a firearm in her home.

The housekeeper initially denied knowing about the circumstances surrounding Eric’s death and dealing fentanyl, but later agreed to cooperate with the investigation to avoid significant prison time. She received a letter of immunity from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and could be called as a witness during a trial.

The housekeeper alleged Kouri asked to buy up to 90 light blue or green pills believed to be fentanyl. However, O’Driscoll said deputies never found any of the pills when searching the Richins home. The Sheriff’s Office did find THC gummies, loose prescription medication and copper mugs.

O’Driscoll was unable to confirm whether the drugs supplied to Kouri were the same ones taken by Eric when Lewis asked him. She also questioned why the Sheriff’s Office did not investigate other potential suspects, including individuals they were having affairs with.

Private investigator Christopher Kotrodimos analyzed the digital evidence in the case. He testified the history on Kouri’s devices had been deleted and identified call records from January 2022 to mid-March 2022 between Kouri and the housekeeper, as well as Kouri and her paramour. 

The two began communicating as soon as November 2021, with daily communication between the two through March, according to Kotrodimos. They were having ongoing conversations around the time of Eric’s death. 

Kotrodimos also noted phone activity during the night Eric died, including the device being unlocked around 3:07 a.m. and a 911 call being placed about 15 minutes later.

Defense attorney Alex Ramos questioned Kotrodimos about his device extraction certifications, which were completed in 2013 and 2017 and have not been renewed. Kotrodimos also said he did not complete the extractions himself, he just reviewed the data.

“You just read it. You read what was spit out. … Everything you’ve testified to is basically because you’ve read it,” Ramos said.

Brooke Karrington, the state’s financial expert, spoke about Kouri’s alleged financial crimes.

The forensic accountant reviewed bank account statements, real property like trust deeds and loan documents belonging to Kouri and Eric Richins. She examined the Richins’ joint account, Kouri’s personal account and separate business accounts for Kouri and Eric.

Karrington described the real estate market in 2019, when Kouri’s real estate business started, and how a home equity line of credit was taken out on the family home. The house was in Eric’s name, and so was the $250,000 loan. Yet it was actually Kouri who signed, using power of attorney, Karrington said.

Kouri took out multiple withdrawals using the loan in August 2019, around the same time she started buying and flipping homes for her business. She purchased several homes around $400,000 throughout 2020 before taking on a more ambitious million-dollar property.

The high cost required Kouri to seek outside investments including utilizing hard money lenders, according to Karrington.

Eric consulted a divorce attorney in October 2020. Karrington said financial arrangements were made after Eric discovered the home equity loan. That’s when he set up his will and trust, naming his children as beneficiaries and his sister as the trustee rather than Kouri.

Defense attorney Kathryn Nester noted Eric didn’t proceed with the divorce.

There were at least six instances when Kouri allegedly falsified bank information using statements from her husband’s construction company with the K Richins Realty header to appear as if the money were in her business. This allowed her to take out more loans.

Kouri owned about 15 properties in 2021. Karrington said Kouri owed about $4 million on the real estate in December. 

There was also between $500,000 and $600,000 in personal property loans. Kouri made around 100 debt payments in that month, with at least one totaling more than $5,000 a week.

Nester argued Karrington’s calculations do not factor in the profit margins from selling the properties after they were fixed and flipped. None of the homes were foreclosed on until after Kouri was arrested in May 2023.

Karrington said there were some home sales that did not cover the outside investment, and trust deeds were used to pay it back. She said the home equity loan was over its limit and credit lines had been exceeded or close to maxed out. Kouri ended 2021 almost $40,000 in the hole, according to Karrington.

The forensic accountant also detailed around $1.5 million in life insurance policies on Eric — Nester noted the largest of those was taken out more than five years before his death — as well as a buy-sell agreement he had with his business partner. Prosecutors have alleged in court documents Eric was unaware of some of the policies, or changes made to them.

Judge Richard Mrazik called the court to recess around 5 p.m. There were no witnesses scheduled to be called. The defense said Kouri will waive her right to testify.

The preliminary hearing was scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Mrazik is expected to rule on whether there’s enough evidence to proceed with the trial.

The post Summit County court reviews evidence against Kouri Richins appeared first on Park Record.

The Park City Fire District’s chipping program has blossomed from a sprouting initiative into a cornerstone of fire mitigation efforts, playing a vital role in reducing wildfire risk across Summit County for more than 20 years.

In 2017, registrations used to be taken over the phone. Fire Marshal Mike Owens can still remember crews handling between 600 and 700 piles a year then. Most were 6 feet wide by 6 feet long and 6 feet tall — and if they were bigger, there was usually a fee.

The chipping program has doubled in size since then, processing about 1,200 piles a year, thanks to equipment upgrades. It’s also completely free.

Registration for the wood chipping service opened in the spring and it’s expected to run until the end of September if the weather permits. There’s one machine staffed four days a week that follows a defined route within the Park City Fire boundaries. 

Homeowners who have cut back dead trees, brush or clippings from their properties can request to have the piles removed. Then the material is transformed into wood chips and disposed of.

The service helps manage and decrease fuel loads, reducing the fire risk and enhancing defensible spaces within an area. It also promotes wildfire preparedness by educating residents about fire mitigation strategies.

“A little tiny work that the single homeowner does where they cut down or trim a tree or they pull out bushes next to their house, that makes a big difference in the big picture. Even though it’s just one little spot, if you do it and your neighbor does it and your neighbor’s neighbor does it, we have a whole community doing it and that’s exactly what we’re seeing,” Owens said.

A small portion of the Park City Fire budget is allocated for the chipping service. In turn, the state has a cooperative wildfire program agreement with Park City and broader Summit County. The agreement requires the local governments to spend a certain amount of money on certain resources, including mitigation and prevention efforts like the chipping service. 

In turn, the state covers the cost of an extended firefighting attack including costly air support. 

The chipping program is not only a community benefit, but a key firefighting resource. It provides homeowners a convenient way to get rid of their piles while also potentially saving Park City and Summit County a significant amount of money.

“That’s not to say we don’t still bear costs, because we do. We do the initial attack and there’s man hours involved in that, equipment and all that kind of stuff,” Owens said. “When we get a fire that’s going to be a prolonged attack, that little investment pays many, many, many times back.”

Park City and Summit County are in the “home stretch” for the fire season. Fire danger was lowered from extreme to high as temperatures have started to cool down and precipitation has been falling.

However, Owens said that doesn’t mean community members should let down their guard because there’s still a chance for large fires to ignite. 

For more information or to register for the service, visit pcfd.org/fire-prevention/wood-chipping.

Text SCFIREINFO to 888777 for updates on Summit County’s fire outlook and conditions, red flag warnings, prescribed burns, information on active fires and more.

The post Park City Fire District service chips away at wildfire risk  appeared first on Park Record.

An unresponsive woman was reported in the Kimball Junction area on Friday.

Summit County deputies were dispatched to a fast food restaurant parking lot to help the woman, according to a report from the Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency medical services also arrived to treat the woman. She was transported by a medical helicopter to a nearby hospital and revived using Narcan, a medicine that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses.

A narcotics K9 arrived to search the scene. Deputies found drugs and paraphernalia in the woman’s purse. The evidence was collected and booked.

The case will be screened for charges by the County Attorney’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to several other calls between Monday, Aug. 12, and Sunday, Aug. 18, including reports of driving under the influence, active warrants and a missing teen hiker.

Sunday, Aug. 18

Summit County Search and Rescue was alerted about a missing 16-year-old near Provo River Falls. The teen was found in his car by family before a deputy arrived.

North Summit Fire District crews stopped at a vehicle where the driver appeared to be slumped over the steering wheel and in distress. The man was found to be asleep with a beer in his hand. A deputy issued a standardized field sobriety test, which the driver performed poorly on. He was arrested for suspected drunk driving and transported to the Summit County Jail. He faces additional charges including open container and failure to wear a seat belt.

Deputies were notified of a theft at Outlets Park City. Two suspects entered a store and took over $1,600 worth of merchandise. The individuals left and the report was made a few hours later. Store employees provided surveillance photos of the suspects. However, the case was closed due to a lack of information. 

A car crash was reported near Canyons Village. The vehicle had gone off the road, through a fence and stopped in the bushes. The driver was found walking toward the resort. Deputies determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The individual was arrested for DUI and taken to the Summit County Jail.

Saturday, Aug. 17

Search and Rescue was notified of an overdue hunter in the Weber Canyon area around midnight. They received a call while enroute that the hunter made it back to camp.

A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation. The 40-year-old driver gave deputies a fake name and took off on foot while a records check was being conducted. Deputies were able to catch up with the man near a gas station and arrested him. They used a fingerprint scanner to identify the man. He was found to have an active immigration warrant as an aggravated reentry felon from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Deputies searched the man’s belongings and found numerous credit cards that didn’t belong to him. The cards were found to belong to a Summit County resident, who lost his wallet several weeks earlier. The man faces new charges including failure to stop at the command of law enforcement and giving false information to the police. He is being held without bail.

Friday, Aug. 16

A Canyons Village hotel called deputies to report a combative person. Deputies arrived and located the suspect, who appeared to be extremely intoxicated. He refused to identify himself and began causing a scene, yelling profanities. Deputies arrested the man and transported him to the Summit County Jail.

A traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle for not having visible registration. The driver provided a temporary registration, but could not prove the vehicle was insured. A K9 was deployed and alerted deputies narcotics were present. They searched the car and found heroin tar, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The passenger claimed the items. She was arrested and booked into the Summit County Jail.

Thursday, Aug. 15

A vehicle traveling on in Pinebrook was stopped for a traffic violation. Deputies arrested the driver after learning he had an active arrest warrant out of the Summit County Justice Court. The man was arrested and transported to the Summit County Jail without incident. 

Deputies were dispatched to the Kimball Junction Transit Center for a welfare check. A record check showed active warrants out of Summit and Wasatch counties. The individual was arrested and transported to the Summit County Jail.

Tuesday, Aug. 13

A motorcycle and car collided in Kimball Junction. The motorcycle struck the driver side of the vehicle. The driver had pulled over to the right and then abruptly returned to the lane of travel. The motorcyclist was transported to Park City Hospital with minor injuries. The vehicle was impounded because it was not registered or insured. The driver was cited. The car and motorcycle were towed.

Monday, Aug. 12

Deputies were dispatched to an accident in Summit Park. The woman driving the vehicle was backing down a steep driveway when she lost control and rolled off the side. The woman and an adult passenger were extricated by emergency medical services. They were transported to Park City Hospital for a medical evaluation. A tow truck retrieved the vehicle.

The post Sheriff’s Report: Unresponsive woman revived with Narcan appeared first on Park Record.

Park City Fire District crews helped knock down a blaze at a Bear Hollow home on Saturday night.

Firefighters were dispatched to the single-family home at 11:17 p.m. and arrived to find “significant fire involvement” on the front left side of the building, according to Park City Fire.

Crews extinguished the fire within 10 minutes of arriving. They remained on the scene to ensure the flames didn’t creep up into other areas of the home and to assist with cleanup efforts.

The family was home at the time. Nobody was injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The post Bear Hollow home fire extinguished appeared first on Park Record.

A Kamas man was reunited with his stolen minivan after a 14-year-old boy suspected of drunken driving was found behind the wheel across the state’s border.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol located the vehicle on Thursday night after someone reported a possible drunk driver in Rock Springs, about 165 miles away. The 14-year-old Utahn was arrested under the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a report from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were asked to help locate the registered owner of the vehicle. The eastern Summit County man said the car was missing from his driveway. He appeared not to have known it was gone until deputies contacted him.

Wyoming Highway Patrol arranged for the registered owner to pick up his vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to several other calls between Monday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 11, including reports of assaults, drunk driving and a missing minor.

Sunday, Aug. 11

A Bear Hollow man notified Park City-area law enforcement a baby bear walked into his home and “grabbed food off the counter.” It was last seen wandering around the driveway.

Deputies stopped a vehicle after it failed to obey a stoplight near the Interstate 80 westbound onramp in Kimball Junction. The driver displayed signs of impairment and a standardized field sobriety test was conducted. The man performed poorly and was arrested for suspected drunk driving. He faces additional charges including open container and driving without a valid license.

Saturday, Aug. 10

Summit County Search and Rescue, the Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol and other deputies were dispatched to the Butterfly Lake area off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway to help locate a missing juvenile. The search was ongoing at shift change, but the teen was later found Sunday morning in good health. The Utah Department of Public Safety helped remove the minor from the mountain.

A stolen vehicle was located on I-80 near the Echo Canyon rest area. The driver was arrested and transported to the Summit County Jail without incident. The individual faces numerous charges including drug possession and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Deputies received a report that a woman could be heard calling for help and a white sedan was seen leaving the area. The vehicle was located near Kimball Junction and stopped. Deputies made contact with a woman driving the car. She had fresh facial injuries and said she had been assaulted. However, she didn’t want to provide information to help identify the suspect. Medical personnel responded and treated the woman. Deputies were unable to locate anyone suspicious in the area.

Friday, Aug. 9

Deputies were dispatched to an assault at a Silver Creek gas station. A woman reported she was attacked by another woman. The woman said she sustained injuries to her face. Deputies observed the marks during an investigation. The suspect was issued a citation and released.

A vehicle was stopped on S.R. 224 near Canyons Village. Deputies observed signs of impairment and the smell of alcohol coming from the driver. The woman agreed to participate in a field sobriety test, which she performed poorly on. She was arrested for suspected drunk driving and charged with a sudden decrease in speed and not having a valid driver’s license.

Wednesday, Aug. 7

A traffic stop was conducted on U.S. 40. A K9 officer was utilized and indicated narcotics were likely present. Deputies searched the vehicle and found drug paraphernalia and a gun. They also searched the driver and found a small amount of methamphetamine. The individual was arrested on several charges.

Tuesday, Aug. 6

A vehicle was stopped near a Kimball Junction gas station for a moving violation. Deputies made contact with the driver and noticed the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. The driver performed poorly on a field sobriety test. The individual was arrested for suspected DUI and failure to use a turn signal.

An off-duty deputy reported a vehicle almost caused a head-on collision on S.R. 32 near Kamas and suspected the driver was drunk. A working deputy located the vehicle and stopped the car. The driver displayed obvious signs of impairment and an open beer can was seen in plain view. The driver participated in a field sobriety test, which the individual performed poorly on. Deputies arrested the individual for suspected DUI and failure to maintain a lane.

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Summit County prosecutors will remain on the Kouri Richins case after her previous defense team tried to remove the County Attorney’s Office.

Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik this week dismissed the motion to disqualify prosecutors saying there is not any credible evidence to suggest local attorneys and jail staff violated the Kamas mother of three’s rights.

“Disqualification of any attorney is not necessary to maintain the fairness of these adversary proceedings,” Mrazik ruled, adding the motion was made without a credible basis.

Kouri appeared in court Thursday afternoon wearing a gray blazer and black long-sleeve shirt with her hair down. She only spoke briefly to address the judge. Wendy Lewis, one of Kouri’s new defense attorneys, was seated beside her. 

Lewis agreed with Mrazik that the County Attorney’s Office did not intentionally or purposefully intrude upon the attorney-client relationship between Kouri and her former attorney, Skye Lazaro, and the Ray Quinney & Nebeker law firm.

Lazaro filed a motion to disqualify the prosecution in May just before she withdrew from the case, citing concerns about the fairness of the case. She accused the County Attorney’s Office, specifically Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth, of listening to attorney-client jail calls as well as intimidation and interrogation. The judge was asked to either remove Bloodworth from the case or disqualify the entire prosecutorial team.

County Attorney Margaret Olson vehemently denied the accusations. Bloodworth and other staff briefly accessed a few recordings but stopped listening once they realized who was speaking. The issue was raised last fall and seemed resolved until the motion was filed.

Olson submitted a joint filing with the new defense team at Nester Lewis to address the issue and clarify it on the record. She accused Lazaro of concocting a conspiracy theory and “poisonous breadcrumb strategy” by putting appellant issues in a criminal case. The objective is to give the accused another opportunity for a trial if they’re convicted — creating a flawed proceeding.

“It is wrong for a lawyer to intentionally throw a wrench into the wheels of the system of justice,” Olson said in court. She affirmed she has a sworn duty to protect the rights of the accused as well as provide a fundamentally fair process.

Lewis said there’s no evidence the state listened to any privileged information during the calls and the recordings were handed over to a taint team, which removed them from the system. She did not comment on allegations Lazaro made about an argument between jail staff, prosecutors and the defense attorneys in March because she was not there. 

Mrazik said there’s no legal issue with Sheriff’s Office employees “scanning” materials for contraband or other safety concerns. He appeared to believe the staff did their job.

Olson proposed a robust form of order, arguing the judge must thoroughly address the motion because the accusation of prosecutorial misconduct “is the equivalent of an undetonated grenade,” and she wants to protect the record.

However, Mrazik did not fully agree. While he said he understands why the County Attorney’s Office is upset, there is no evidence of the violations so additional elements proposed by Olson aren’t necessary. He was hesitant to go down certain paths because the main concerns were already addressed in his ruling.

The judge affirmed an independent review of the record found no evidence that Bloodworth or any other agent of the County Attorney’s Office intentionally violated attorney-client privilege nor did they direct jail staff about how to interact with Kouri.

Kouri is set to appear in court again from Aug. 26 to 28 for a preliminary hearing. Mrazik will decide whether there’s enough evidence for her to stand trial for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins.

The 34 year old has been held without bail since her arrest in May 2023. She faces 11 felonies including aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, distribution of a controlled substance, forgery, mortgage fraud and false insurance claims.

Eric died of a fentanyl overdose in March 2022. Prosecutors allege Kouri poisoned him with a Moscow Mule cocktail laced with fentanyl, and that she attempted to do it a month earlier with a drug-laced sandwich on Valentine’s Day. The County Attorney’s Office says Kouri felt trapped in her marriage and had a financial motive to kill her husband.

Kouri and her family have maintained her innocence. She faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The case is not up for capital punishment.

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