Salt Lake City police arrest three, remove four children from drug house

Service of a felony warrant turned into three arrests and the removal of four children from their west Salt Lake City home, police say.

Salt Lake City police Det. Dennis McGowan said officers went to 825 S. Jefferson Street (200 West) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday seeking a 35-year-old fugitive. The man's girlfriend and his 62-year-old father answered the door and denied the suspect was there.

Then, the wanted man strolled into the front room. While officers took him into custody, they also noticed alleged drug paraphernalia in plain view.

A search warrant was obtained and officers seized an unspecified amount of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and additional drug paraphernalia, McGowan said.

The drug items were within easy reach of the four children, ages 3 to 12. It was not immediately known Friday whether the children had been put into state custody or were being cared for by other relatives, McGowan said.

The 35-year-old man, his girlfriend and his father were all arrested and booked into Salt Lake County Jail on various outstanding warrants and suspicion of obstruction of justice, child endangerment and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims