UPD officer charged after crashing car while allegedly high on Fentanyl

Unified Police Officer Jared Brooks Cardon, 49 of Syracuse crashed his UPD cruiser this summer while allegedly high on Fentanyl.

The now former Unified Police Department’s Officer crashed his marked UPD cruiser on July 12, 2021. The crash occurred at 1700 South I-15 Northbound in Salt Lake City when he hit the barrier and then crossed over into the HOV lane.

The crash was originally tweeted about by Utah Highway Patrol, but it was not mentioned that the officer was under the influence of an illegal substance.

This morning at 5:18 a @UPDSL officer was involved in a single vehicle crash at 1700 S I-15 NB. The officer was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition.

— Utah Highway Patrol (@UTHighwayPatrol) June 12, 2021

Cardon was found unconscious after the crash with the ignition running. Cardon was resuscitated by paramedics using Naloxone and taken to the hospital. Inside the vehicle officers located 26 pills of Oxycodone Hydrochloride, for which he did not have a prescription. Cardon also had his gun on him at the time of the crash which UHP removed according to court documents.

Melody Cutler, Unified Police PIO, confirmed that Cardon was hired in January 2021 and resigned August 13^th, 2021.

Cardon is expected to face charges of  firearm used by a restricted person, possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.