This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Police investigating a suspicious vehicle in downtown Salt Lake City's homeless district ended up arresting a man and woman, and placing their child in state custody.

Salt Lake City police Detective Robert Ungricht said two officers patrolling the area around the Road Home Shelter saw a car pull into a private, "no trespassing" posted parking lot at 545 W. 200 South.

As they watched, the occupants pulled down a front window shade and appeared to be lowering the front seats, a behavior officers have come to associate with drug use, Ungricht said.

Noticing the vehicle had expired temporary license plate tabs and was not registered, officers approached.

"In plain sight, at the driver's right hand, was a used roll of tin foil and a pop can that had been burned at the bottom, common items indicating [drug] use," Ungricht said.

The driver, a 35-year-old man, and a 37-year-old female passenger were arrested. Their 12-year-old son, sitting in the back seat, was taken into custody by the Utah Division of Family Services.

The man and woman were booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of child endangerment, as well as possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

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