Three Individuals Arrested After Caller Reports Drug Activity in Price

Price City Police Department Press Release

On Sunday just before 4 p.m., a citizen phoned dispatch to report drug activity inside a vehicle at a Price downtown business. The caller allegedly observed a male behind the steering wheel of the parked car who appeared to be having an overdose. The caller then allegedly observed a female enter the vehicle and inject something into her arm, while at the same time trying to rouse the male. While on the phone with dispatch, the caller observed the male awaken, and drive off, with two female passengers.

Carbon County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tory Christiansen was able to observe and intercept the vehicle on the east side of Price. He initiated a traffic stop, and Price City Police Officer Tyler Cressall arrived on scene to conduct the investigation. Other deputies and officers arrived on scene to assist.

Responding units attended to the potential medical issues relative to the alleged drug use of the male driver, and front female passenger. A rear seat female passenger seemed to be okay. During the course of contact with the occupants of the vehicle, it was learned the male driver had taken over payments for the car as the actual owner was required to go to prison for violating the terms of his parole. It was then allegedly learned that there was no current insurance for the vehicle along with registration issues.

The vehicle was impounded, and a vehicle inventory was conducted by the officers. The officers located numerous drug and paraphernalia items allegedly implicating all three persons in the vehicle. The seized items allegedly included a little over 26 grams of heroin, a little over a gram of methamphetamine, a variety of prescription pills, counterfeit money and numerous items of paraphernalia.

All three subjects were arrested and booked into the Carbon County Jail. Reese Gordon Laws, DOB 8-1-81 of Blanding, was arrested for felony distribution of heroin, and misdemeanor charges of possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. Vanessa Alicia Montano, DOB 8-17-94 of Blanding, was arrested for misdemeanor charges of possession of heroin, methamphetamine and prescription pills (unlawfully obtained), and paraphernalia. Michelle Lynn Holley, DOB 5-5-80 of Price, was arrested for misdemeanor charges of possession of heroin, methamphetamine and paraphernalia. The Carbon County Attorney’s Office will review the report to determine the appropriate formal charges, along with potential additional charges.

According to court records, Laws has two previous arrests both involving drug offenses. According to court records, Montano has one previous arrest for several serious charges, including aggravated assault and unlawful detention, for which she entered into a plea in abeyance agreement with the 7^th District Court in May of 2016. According to court records, Holley has 13 previous arrests including charges for drug offenses, false information, forgery, burglary and theft.