A former Unified Police officer was charged with DUI on Thursday after police said he tested positive for fentanyl after crashing a patrol car on Interstate 15 in June.
Responding officers found Jared Brooks Cardon, 49, unconscious on I-15 near 1500 South on June 12 after his vehicle crashed into the HOV lane’s left wall, according to court documents. They removed Cardon’s service weapon and a paramedic resuscitated him with naloxone, an opioid-overdose antidote.
Agents later found 26 pills of oxycodone hydrochloride in the wrecked vehicle that Cardon did not have a prescription for, documents state. They contained para-fluorofentanyl, a Schedule I opioid.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office charged Cardon with possession of a firearm by a restricted person — being classified as a category II restricted person due to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, according to the documents.
He also has been charged with three misdemeanors: one count of possession or use of a controlled substance, one count of DUI and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Cardon has previously been involved in two police shootings: one in 2011, where he fired three shots at a motorist his attorney alleged was driving at him while he conducted a separate traffic stop; and one in 2007, where he shot a man four times who allegedly revved his engine as if to ram him during a traffic stop.
The 2011 shooting was deemed unjustified and Cardon was charged with reckless endangerment, though the charge was later dismissed. A jury also determined Cardon didn’t use excessive force in a lawsuit filed by the man he shot in 2007.
Cardon was an officer with the West Valley Police department at the time of both shootings, but resigned from that department in March 2012. He was hired by Unified Police in January 2014 and resigned on Aug 13, the department said.
Correction • Dec. 3, 1 p.m.: The story has been updated to correct the name of former Unified Police officer Jared Brooks Cardon. Dec 17, 4:30 p.m.: The story has been updated to correct the date the crash occurred.
