A traffic stop initiated a variety of charges against a man in Uintah County this week. On April 23rd, 34-year-old William Earl Harrison was pulled over and, during the stop, K9 Kratos gave an indication of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were in the vehicle and Harrison was arrested and booked into Uintah County Jail. He was charged with 3rd Degree Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. The next day, additional charges were added related to a separate incident earlier this month. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, surveillance footage showed Harrison in Walmart on April 3rd ticket switching an item to purchase. Ticket switching is when a person takes the price tag off one item, places it on another, and then uses the self check-out terminal to scan the incorrect barcode placed on the item. In this case, Harrison scanned the barcode for a plastic shovel valued at $1.12 that he had placed on a vacuum valued at $229 dollars. On April 24th, he was charged for the offense of 3rd Degree Felony Retail Theft. The charge was enhanced to a felony because Harrison has a prior conviction for felony theft. His initial appearance for this charge in 8th District Court is scheduled for April 29th.
