Suspected drug traffickers arrested during traffic stop in Iron County

IRON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — Three people are behind bars after a traffic stop near Parowan just off of Interstate 15 Thursday morning.

According to probable cause statements filed by the Iron County Sherriff’s Office, a deputy initiated a traffic stop on a Hyundai Sonata on the on-ramp to I-15 at milepost 78 around 2 a.m. Thursday after observing a large object hanging from the rearview mirror.

Deputies were able to talk with the owner of the vehicle, identified as Whitney Tatomer, 36, who immediately pulled a large bandana off of the mirror. Tatomer told police they were on their way back from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, where she lives, and told police they were there to gamble.

Tatomer was reportedly asked which hotel they were staying at, and “appeared unsure about her answer,” then told the deputy they were staying at Little America. Tatomer later denied a consent to have their vehicle searched. Tatomer and two other occupants, identified as Adrian Molina, 38, and Karson Daley, 25, were removed from the vehicle while deputies conducted a probable cause search.

During the search, deputies reportedly found several paraphernalia items, including foil matching the same type found on Molina, a box with Ziploc bags, a lunch pale with electrical tape and a white, crystal like substance, several vapes, pictures and tools used for controlled substances, and a key chain with pills inside of a vile.

Deputies also found two firearms in the vehicle and additional crystal like substances consistent with meth.

All three occupants were transported and booked into the Iron County Jail, and all of them face multiple felony charges.