OCR Text |
Show Wednesday, August 29, 2007 A5 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Public to thank for apprehension of suspected pharmacy burgler By John Hales Staff writer MANTI—Police are giving credit to the community for the quick apprehension of a suspect in a burglary and theft of a medical-clinic pharmacy last week. Early in the morning of Thursday, Aug. 23, Sanpete County sheriff’s deputies apprehended Kelly Shepherd, Manti, for breaking into the Intermountain Health Care (IHC) clinic in Manti and stealing prescriptions that had been filled and were awaiting pickup. Police say they had Shepherd in their custody only 15 minutes after responding to the incident. “There was a lot of cooperation [from the community] and that’s what helped solve it,” said Sanpete County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Andy Lyon. According to officers, Shepherd broke into the clinic at approximately 3:30 a.m., setting off the building’s alarm system. The alarm apparently spooked Shepherd, who grabbed prescriptions indiscriminately in his haste to leave. “He just grabbed the bunch of them. The majority were not narcotics, some were,” Lyon said, adding that authorities were certain Shepherd was looking for narcotics. The alarm also awoke and alerted nearby residents, including some staying at Manti Country Village Motel next door. Deputy Kenny Kirkham, who responded and investigated the case, said, “Two witnesses staying at the hotel heard the alarm, looked out the window, saw what he was wearing and which way he ran.” Those people’s descriptions, together with surveillance video at both Top Stop and the IHC clinic, helped officers identify the suspect as Shepherd. Officers picked Shepherd up at his home, retrieved all of the drugs taken from the pharmacy with the exception of ten 5 mg methadone tablets he had swallowed, and held him for identification and questioning. By 5 a.m., Shepherd was in jail. “It helped us, the assistance we got from the community,” said Kirkham. “The community has more eyes than we do. If they can share the information they see, it helps us.” Kirkham and Lyon also thanked Utah Adult Probation and Parole and the Central Utah Narcotics Task Force for their roles in the case. Shepherd is being held in the Sanpete County Jail on charges of burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance. The Sanpete County Attorney’s Office is screening the case to determine the exact charges to be filed in court. In addition to theft, burglary and possession those charges could include others, as Shepherd was on probation for a previous conviction. 145th (Continued from A1) sacrifice, we can never repay you for what you have given to the nation.” By today, the soldiers of the 145th are either in the Middle East or on their way and are slated to stay in Kuwait for a little while before assuming their assignment guarding Camp Bucca, according to family members of some of the troops. Camp Bucca is one of two detainee camps in Iraq holding more than 19,000 prisoners, according to CNN. It has been the site of riots and attacks. The most recent of those attacks killed six civilians in June, though no U.S. military personnel were killed at the time. Despite the danger the unit is being sent into, Shawn Crane of Fayette, father of 145th Sgt. Brady Crane, says he’s more comfortable with their deployment after witnessing firsthand their training at Fort Bliss. Crane was one of several Sanpete residents that spent some time in Fort Bliss two weeks ago as part of a program that allows employers of troop members to mated what the troops would be ‘validated’ before they’re allowed to go. That means they have to pass visit troops during training. Crane going through. “They had us put on some of the training or they don’t go.” not only supervises two members Crane and others mentioned of the unit at their regular jobs with the body armor, and we could wear similar impressions the expeACT Manufacturing in rience had on them. Gunnison, but also has a son Sanpete News Co. will provide “I was extremely touched at going to Iraq with the 145th. “As a parent of one of the free subscriptions to the Sanpete the patriotism of these young boys that are going, I was put Messenger and the Sanpete Mes- men, and it helped me to be a more patriotic person myself,” more at ease having seen how senger/Gunnison Valley Edition Crane said. “Seeing what I’ve these men prepare to go do the job that they are supposed to for members of the 145th Field Ar- seen makes me want to be a tillery Unit while they are in Iraq, better American, a better perdo,” he said. “They’ve created a mock publisher Suzanne Dean an- son, knowing that these people detainee camp down there that nounced at the Sanpete County are making the ultimate sacrifice for me. I sit in a safe place supposedly looks about idenFair Rodeo Saturday night. in the middle of Utah. I’m in a tical to what they’ll see when very safe place, and these guys they get over there, so that when they get there there’s no loss it for an hour and take turns. It got are willing to go. “I was extremely proud of hot, no doubt about it. They have in the training.” Crane and other employers to consume a lot of water. When- these guys and all that they’re dothat went to Fort Bliss—including ever they go out, they’re always in ing.” According to Crane, praise for Josh Swapp of Swapp Roofing, full gear and pack their weapons Andy Lyon of the Sanpete County with them—when they go to eat, the troops came from more than Sheriff’s Department, and Allen even when they go to church, they just those acquainted with them Dyreng of Dyreng Dairy Farm have their weapons with them,” he from home. “From the comments I heard (who also has two sons with the said. “They were receiving a very from all the leadership down there, 145th)—said they were both impressed and astonished by what high level of training, very skilled [the 145th] is one of the most training. The time spent on the highly motivated, hardest working they witnessed. Crane said before going to training is quite a bit of time. Ev- groups that have ever come Fort Bliss, he probably underesti- ery soldier has to be what they call through Fort Bliss to be deployed.” Casino Star Theatre The Bourne Ultimatum Rated PG13 78 S. MAIN, GUNNISON Aug. 31-Sept. 6 528-STAR 7 p.m. Weekdays Two showings Friday & Saturday 7 pm and 9 pm CASINOSTARTHEATRE.ORG Prices: Adults $5.50 Children under 12 and Seniors $3.50 Tuesday is Bargain Night All Seats $3.50! Central Valley Medical Center & Fountain Green Medical Clinic Welcomes… County votes in favor of detective position But county will hold off committing money until next budget year By C. R. Truitt and Suzanne Dean Staff writers MANTI—Sheriff Kevin Holman’s plan to establish a countywide detective position appears to be a “go.” At a special meeting Thursday, Aug. 23, the Sanpete County Commission voted to support creation of the job, although commissioners decided to hold off on a specific dollar commitment until the next budget year, which begins in January. The position is projected to cost about $70,000. Holman said he had commitments of about $40,000 from municipalities, enough to cover costs from the point when a detective is hired until the end of 2007. While the county budget is based on the calendar year, municipalities use the fiscal year. So a number of towns included funds for the detective in budgets adopted in late June or early July, the sheriff explained in an interview Monday. Holman said Monday that he had commitments from Mt. Pleas- CORRECTION ... ant, Ephraim, Fairview, Manti, Sterling, Mayfield and Spring City. He either hasn’t met yet or is still talking with other towns, including Fountain Green, Wales, Centerfield and Gunnison. But even though a number of towns aren’t on board yet, “I’d just as soon get [the position] going, and go back later and pick up a few stragglers,” the sheriff said. The next step, he said, is drawing up an agreement for a presentation in a couple of weeks at a monthly meeting of police chiefs. The commission was concerned that some municipalities might regard their commitment as applying to the current budget year only, leaving the county to pick up the whole tab in 2008. The written agreement will make clear that municipal contributions to the detective position are an ongoing obligation, Holman said. Once the sheriff gets the right signatures on the formal agreement, he will determine whether he needs to run the position needs through the Sheriff’s Office’s merit commission. If so, he’ll need to meet with that group to finalize hiring procedures. He said he hoped to advertise the position about mid-September. The job will be posted for two weeks. It will take another couple of weeks to put applications through competitive tests. The final selection should happen in about mid-October, he said. “It’s a long process, but all we can do is go through it,” he said. A front-page photo caption in the Aug. 22 issue of the Messenger misidentified the former position of Bette Jean Christensen with Top Stop. Christensen was an employee of Top Stop, and was manager of the Gunnison store. The Messenger regrets the error. Board Certified in Family Practice Residency at Ventura County Medical Center, California Graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University Graduate of Brigham Young University B.S., M.S. Ph.D. North Carolina State University Se Habla Espanol Interests: Family, Hiking, Backpacking, Astronomy and Scouting Accepting New Patients Call 435-445-3301 to schedule an appointment Deadlines, Post Office & Contact Information Tell a friend! UPS# 232-020 Publisher .............................................................................. Suzanne Dean Associate Publisher .................................................................... Lloyd Call Associate Editor ....................................................................... Sean Hales Managing Editor ........................................................................ John Hales Copy Editor .................................................................................. Lori Smith Outdoor Recreation Editor .................................................. Bob Bahlmann Office Manager ..................................................................... Jacque Marsh Circulation Manager ............................................................... Sara Hansen Webmaster ....................................................................... Jessica Prisbrey Staff Political correspondent ............................................ C. R. Truitt (445-3326) Manti .................................................................... Judy Chantry (835-8010) Gunnison .......................................................... Karen Prisbrey (528-7710) Centerfield ............................................................ Elva Jensen (528-3382) Sports Writers ....................................................................... Doug Johnson Photographers ....................................................... Peter Goss, Russ Beck Columnists ................................................... Corrie Lynn Player, C.L. Beck x x x x Member Utah Press Association POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sanpete Messenger, 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 x x x Sanpete News Company, Inc., publishing the GUNNISON VALLEY EDITION Copyright, Sanpete News Company, Inc.©2004. All rights reserved. Reproduction, re-use, or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. Published each Wednesday for 75¢ each, $24.00 inside Sanpete County, $27.00 outside Sanpete County, by Sanpete News Company, Inc., 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Phone 435-835-4241, fax 435-835-1493 suzanne@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail publisher at: E-mail sports to: sports@sanpetemessenger.com school@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail school items to: news@sanpetemessenger.com E-mail news to: E-mail ads to: ads@sanpetemessenger.com Deadline: Thursday, 5 p.m. Manti: 35 S. Main, Hours: M-F, 9 am to 6 pm Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti, Utah 84642, and at additional mailing offices. Dr. David C. McClain The Sanpete Messenger/ Gunnison Valley Edition Get your tickets now for Casino Star Theatre Live Performance Series Single performances: $8/adults, $5/students & seniors Season tickets (All 7 shows) $50/adults, $30/students & seniors Advance Tickets available at Rasmussen’s Ace Hardware, Gunison, and Sanpete News, Manti. Proceeds from all live performances will help to pay for the restoration of the historic theatre. |