Cocaine in treat bag spurs probe

Child apparently got drug vial at a Lehi church Halloween party

OREM — Lehi police have launched an investigation to find out how a vial with cocaine residue ended up in a child's Halloween sack Monday night.

"Obviously there's a huge concern if there's someone out there distributing (drugs) to a child," Lehi Police Lt. Jeff Swenson said. "But right now we have no leads at all on this case."

Nearly 70 vehicles were at a "trunk-or-treat" event at an LDS church parking lot near Cabela's in Lehi. The Halloween activity allows children to go from car-to-car to get candy instead of the typical door-to-door approach.

However, when one family returned home and checked their 7-year-old's treat sack, they found a clear baggie with a small glass vial inside, Swenson said.

Police said the white substance found in the capped vial tested positive as cocaine.

The family attended the activity between 6 and 8 p.m., and the child's mother had been with the child the entire time. The family didn't visit any other neighborhoods to trick-or-treat, but called police around 8:20 p.m. when they found the vial, Swenson said.

"The parents did the smart thing and went through the basket. It's the smart thing to do, check over the candy . . . before the kids start eating," Swenson said.

With an estimated 300 people at the activity — two or three wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Swenson said the only lead they have is a red Honda Civic hatchback that individuals said looked out of place.

"This was the first time in 12 years where we've had some type of drug in the Halloween basket," Swenson said.

---

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com

Comments