By David Kimball
An Orem man is being held in the Utah County Jail on drug charges after being accidentally set up in a case Orem Police officials found comical, to say the least.
Isaac Dennis, 26, walked into a friend''s house Friday night with a small red balloon filled with heroin dangling from his fingers and a big smile on his face. He was expecting to get high, but his friend had no intention of joining in the narcotic festivities.
The friend, a 35-year-old woman, had contacted Orem Police officials because she wanted to talk about her involvement in drug activities and how she wanted to escape. The woman did not know Dennis was on his way, but Officer Phil Anderson was visiting the woman when Dennis entered.
Dennis'' smile quickly faded when he saw Anderson. Not only were his plans for the night about to be spoiled, but so were his plans for the near future and likely for the next few months.
Anderson started asking about the contents of the conspicuous balloon Dennis couldn''t hide quickly enough. Anderson assumed Dennis'' sudden and uncontrolled shaking were signs of guilt and confiscated the balloon and the heroin inside it.
The drug arrest wasn''t the only reason Lieutenant Doug Edwards of the Orem Department of Public Safety found Dennis'' case so amusing. When Dennis was arrested, Anderson found out there were already several warrants out for Dennis'' arrest for a number of different charges.
Officials at the Utah County Jail said Tuesday that Dennis had already seen the judge once since his arrest on Friday, but not for his drug charge. He was found guilty of issuing a bad check and was sentenced to one of three penalties: spend 180 days in jail, pay a fine of $934 or enter the Foothill Drug Treatment Center once there is space for him. Dennis may choose which option he will take, but jail officials did not say which Dennis was planning to choose.
He has not yet been sentenced for Friday''s events, but he is scheduled to see the judge again on June 5. Until then he will be held in the Utah County Jail on a $7,500 cash or bond bail.
US No Drugs.com reported that drug arrests for marijuana are the most prevalent in Utah, but heroin is a growing problem in the state as well.