×
×
homepage logo
SUBSCRIBE

Ogden police chase ends in drug bust, 2 arrests

By Mark Shenefelt - | Oct 19, 2021

Photo supplied, ThinkStock

OGDEN — A mismatched license plate led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of large quantities of narcotics and three illegally possessed guns, police said in charging documents.

The Weber County Attorney’s Office filed charges Monday against Tomas Zarazua, 39, of Salt Lake City, and Billie Jo Avila, 46, of Ogden, after a police chase through downtown Ogden on Friday evening.

An Ogden police arrest affidavit said an officer spotted a pickup truck with an invalid plate in the 2200 block of Kiesel Avenue. When he attempted a traffic stop, the driver sped away, running traffic lights and stop signs and weaving through traffic, into the oncoming lanes, the affidavit said.

As the pursuit continued into west Ogden, the pickup turned north on B Avenue and nearly collided with an officer’s southbound car, according to the affidavit.

The pickup turned into an apartment parking lot in the 500 West block of 24th Street and Zarazua got out and put up his hands, the affidavit said. Charging documents for Avila alleged she ran out of an apartment, screaming at police and running to interfere with Zarazua’s arrest.

“When Zarazua exited the vehicle Avila ran to the vehicle, took the keys, and shut and locked the door, stating that it was her vehicle and we had no right to search it,” her arrest affidavit said. She allegedly refused to turn over the keys and then resisted arrest, the document said.

Police said Zarazua had a belt holster and a bag of bullets in a pocket. After getting a search warrant, police searched the truck and said they found a handgun on the passenger seat, two other guns elsewhere in the vehicle, and large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana. The search also yielded drug-dealing paraphernalia including scales and plastic bags, and large amounts of cash, according to the affidavit.

Prosecutors charged Zarazua with two first-degree felony counts of possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, two second-degree felony charges of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, third-degree felony aggravated assault and two misdemeanor drug charges.

Avila is charged with second-degree felony obstruction of justice and misdemeanor charges of interfering with an arresting officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)