Alleged Salt Lake City drug deal gone sour ends in SUV crash, arrests, police say

SALT LAKE CITY — Two men were taken to jail after an attempted drug sale/robbery ended with one of the men pulling a gun and the sport utility vehicle in which they were riding being rolled, police said.

Beoing Kual picked up David Rodriguez to purchase some Ecstasy Friday afternoon, said Lt. Melody Gray of the Salt Lake Police Department.

Gray said that while the vehicle was moving, Rodriguez put some drugs in the center console of the car. Kual opened the console to evaluate the product, and Rodriguez told him how much money it would cost. Before any money was exchanged, Kual, who was driving, pulled a gun from under the car seat in an apparent attempt to steal the drugs, the officer said. Rodriguez tried to grab the gun and, while the two men were struggling, the vehicle rolled at 700 South and 900 East.

When police responded, they found Rodriguez at the scene. He had crawled out the back window, Gray said. After being examined, he was taken to a hospital for treatment of a broken foot.

Witnesses at the scene said Kual crawled out through the broken windshield and stood outside the car, appearing confused and as if he were looking for something. He ran before police arrived but was caught near the scene.

When police searched the vehicle, they found a gun and 300 tablets of Ecstasy.

"That's a lot," Gray said. "The usual dose is one tablet." She said it appeared that Kual was not buying for use but to distribute.

Gray said Kual was to be booked into jail on investigation of aggravated robbery and Rodriguez on investigation of possession of a controlled substance with intention to distribute. Both charges are second-degree felonies.

— Abigail Shaha