The deputy, John Earl Stevens, was booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of drug possession and evidence tampering. He was released after posting a $1,500 bail. The Sanpete County Sheriff's Office has placed Stevens on administrative leave.
Stevens, 28, is a K-9 handler assigned to a central Utah narcotics task force. An affidavit filed by investigators says Stevens admitted recently to using cocaine and methamphetamine to Sanpete Sheriff Kevin Holman.
Holman called the Utah County Sheriff's Office to investigate. A detective, in the affidavit, says he served a search warrant on Stevens' home in Gunnison and found a broken methamphetamine pipe, burned tinfoil used to smoke meth and "empty sealed evidence bags."
In an interview with the detectives, Stevens said he used drugs taken from the evidence room in Millard County, which also belongs to the task force, and used drugs from his K-9 training equipment, according to the affidavit. He flushed some cocaine down a toilet after feeling guilty for using the drugs, the affidavit also says.
Stevens has worked for Sanpete County since January 2004.
Sanpete Deputy County Attorney Brody Keisel said Stevens arrest could "potentially" impact ongoing prosecutions but he declined to elaborate.
No formal criminal charges have been filed.
