Man accused of dealing drugs tried to travel to Utah to buy fentanyl, says Pocatello Police
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POCATELLO — A 41-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly sold drugs from his home in Pocatello.
Tyler Peterson was charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
A Pocatello Police detective received a drug tip on June 9 regarding Peterson, stating he was selling methamphetamine and fentanyl pills out of his home on the 1700 block of West Quinn Road, according to court documents.
Police organized a controlled purchase with a confidential informant in Chubbuck, where they were allegedly able to buy 18 fentanyl pills from Peterson.
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On Aug. 26, Idaho State Police detectives were granted a search warrant for Peterson’s White Acura ILX. Around 4:45 a.m. the same day, they conducted a traffic stop on Peterson, who was driving with a passenger. Both were detained.
Inside the car, detectives allegedly found drug paraphernalia, including tin foil with a black burnt residue, a residue amount of a “crystal-like substance,” and “five blue M30 fentanyl pills.”
The substances were later tested and came back presumptive positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
During an interview with detectives, Peterson allegedly said he “would smoke anywhere between 50-100 pills daily.” He also admitted that he had been driving to Salt Lake City, to buy drugs but that “his trip was not successful since he got pulled over,” police said.
Peterson allegedly said he had previously tried to buy fentanyl from a source in Salt Lake City, but got “ripped off.”
When asked where Peterson got the pills he had in his car, he said he “found it in a dumpster” and “knew better to make another trip since he was at a breaking point,” according to police.
Peterson was then transported to the Bannock County Jail and booked on a bond of $25,000. He is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 3.
If convicted, he could face up to 18 years in prison.
Though Peterson has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.