Deputies arrest alleged fugitive

By Sun Advocate

Carbon County law enforcement captured a reportedly fleeing felon on Fathers’ Day in Carbonville. Darrell Morris, age 33, was booked into the county jail on a warrant from the Utah Board of Pardons.
In addition, Carbon and Emery County prosecutors have added multiple counts of forgery, passing forged checks, burglary of a motor vehicle, aggravated burglary and theft.
The subject further faces charges of unlawful use, acquisition, possession or transfer of a financial transaction card and obtaining property by the use of a financial transaction card.
Capt. Guy Adams of the Carbon sheriff’s office said Darrell Morris had walked away from the county jail within just a few weeks of when he would have been released.
Darrell Morris had been part of the “half-way back” program. The program allows inmates to be released into the community for about one hour during the weeks prior to release in order to find work and set up other arrangements for after their release date.
The Utah Board of Pardons issued a no-bond warrant for the alleged fugitive. Law enforcement considered Darrell Morris to be a violent fugitive and said he was wanted for a series of crimes in both Carbon and Emery counties.
As officials pursued the subject, individuals close to the suspect reported that he was unwilling to surrender.
“He made it known to everybody that he wasn’t going back to prison,” said Adams. Reports had also suggested that Darrell Morris had stolen two firearms.
On June 15, the sheriff’s office received a tip that the suspect was at a residence in south Price. Price city police officers, sheriff’s deputies and the Carbon County special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit responded to the residence.
Due to the circumstances and reports of Darrell Morris’ unwillingness to surrender, law enforcement officials surrounded the residence and attempted negotiations.
When law enforcement authorities on the scene received no answer from inside the residence, the officials deployed CS gas and OC gas into the residence. Both gases are forms of non-lethal pepper spray, indicated Adams.
After allowing 30 minutes for the gases to take effect, law enforcement personnel made entry into the residence and found it empty.
Officials discovered a note which appeared to have been left by the alleged fugitive for the tenant, added Adams. The note stated that the subject had left and would be back later to recover his personal belongings.
Adams said Darrell Morris had likely fled the scene when he saw increased activity by law enforcement in the area.
With the subject having evaded capture, SWAT and other officials cleared the scene and Price fire department cleared the chemicals from the residence.
Three days later, the sheriff’s office received another tip.
“We received information from Price City Police Sgt. Bill Barnes regarding the whereabouts of fugitive Morris,” explained Adams.
The sheriff’s office captain said the information included the trailer number at a trailer park in Carbonville. The trailer reportedly corresponded to the address of the suspect’s estranged wife, Tracy Morris.
On June 18, law enforcement officials began the execution a plan to capture the alleged fugitive.
Sheriff’s deputies were to set up a perimeter around the home, said Adams.
Once a perimeter was established, Adams would call the residence and attempt communication with Tracy Morris.
However, as deputies were surrounding the home, Tracy Morris reportedly came outside.
“We were able to talk with her and get her away from the porch,” noted Adams. “She denied that he was there.”
Shortly after deputies had spoken with the suspect’s estranged wife, Darrell Morris reportedly emerged from the residence.
Adams said the male subject was likely looking for Tracy Morris.
“He was given commands to put his hands in the air and get down on the ground,” explained Adams.
The sheriff’s office captain indicated that the subject purportedly did not comply with the command.
Instead, preliminary incident reports indicate that the suspect taunted the deputies, saying “Shoot me. Shoot me.”
Adams said the suspect purportedly attempted to tun back into the trailer, but law enforcement officials stopped Darrell Morris at gunpoint.
Deputy Rick Adams then approached the alleged fugitive from behind, deploying a Taser gun.
The electroshock caused the subject to become incapacitated.
Darrell Morris was cuffed and transported to the county jail.
After reportedly receiving consent from Tracy Morris, the sheriff’s deputies entered the residence.
Law enforcement officials searched a bag and reportedly found a flash spoon from the SWAT incident three days earlier.
Also, lying on the bed in plain view, deputies reportedly found approximately 15 grams of suspected marijuana, a scale, a silver spoon and a small amount of suspected methamphetamine.
“We’re lucky to have gotten him off the street,” commented Adams.
The sheriff’s office captain recognized the cooperation of the Price City Police Department in helping bring the suspect in.
The capture would have been made more difficult without the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies, concluded Adams.