Three arrested in police raid on Provo drug house

As April Fools' Day drug busts go, it wasn't much of a joke for two men and a woman now behind bars awaiting felony drug distribution prosecution.

Provo Police Chief Rick Gregory unveiled details of the raid and arrests on Thursday, four days after officers served a search warrant at a known drug house near 1000 West and 100 South.

A man was arrested about 6:30 p.m. Monday as he was leaving the residence. Gregory said the man had 22 small balloons of heroin.

Police entered the home and found 34 more heroin balloons under a mattress in the second man's bedroom and more of the drug inside a jacket belonging to the female suspect. Officers also seized digital scales, pipes, tin foil and empty balloons believed associated with a significant illegal drug distribution operation.

Gregory said three children, ages 6, 4 and 3, also were in the home — a residence targeted in two previous searches that also turned up illegal substances over the past three years. The children were placed in protective custody.

The first man was booked into Utah County Jail on suspicion of possession of heroin. The second man was booked on suspicion of distribution of heroin, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. The woman was jailed on suspicion of possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All of the charges were enhanced because the house is in a "drug-free zone," Gregory said, noting that an LDS Church building is nearby.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims