Two arrested in Idaho Falls drug bust
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IDAHO FALLS – A man and woman are in custody following a drug bust in Idaho Falls.
Idaho Falls Police Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements says 24-year-old Karlee Kuck and 38-year-old Simon Martinez, both of Idaho Falls, were found in a parking lot on Christmas Eve around 7 p.m. “engaging in drug activity.”
As an officer arrived, the vehicle attempted to leave. The driver reportedly failed to come to a complete stop before exiting the parking lot and the officer initiated a traffic stop.
Kuck’s driver’s license revealed her identity. A male passenger said he did not have identification on him and provided a name that officers determined was not his real name. They detained him because they believed he was lying about his identity. The passenger was wearing a hat and a face mask. An officer removed it and recognized him as Simon Martinez. Martinez is known to local law enforcement and is known to frequently be armed.
Officers drew their weapons and gave repeated directions for Martinez to exit the vehicle and to lay on the ground. Martinez eventually complied and was taken into custody without further incident. Officers searched Martinez’ person and found him in possession of $1,226.
Kuck, who was also detained at that time, informed officers there was a firearm in her purse. As officers looked inside, they also found drug paraphernalia.
Officers later determined the gun had been stolen in September from an unlocked vehicle in Idaho Falls. Kuck told officers the gun belonged to Martinez and that it was in her purse because Martinez was a convicted felon and was not supposed to be in possession of the firearm. The firearm had orange tape wrapped around the tip, mimicking a common trait of fake or toy firearms.
A black duffel bag and backpack containing men’s clothing and items belonging to Martinez were also recovered.
Inside the black backpack, officers located 40.85 grams of methamphetamine, 7.90 grams of marijuana and THC wax, 1.9 grams of heroin, three containers of cocaine weighing a total of 42.25 grams, drug paraphernalia, and an additional $9,124. Officers also located 38.82 grams of a white powdered substance they suspected was fentanyl. It was sent to the Idaho State Police Lab for identification.
A zippered clutch belonging to Kuck had .9 grams of heroin, according to the police report. Kuck admitted to possession of additional paraphernalia and methamphetamine on her person. Additional paraphernalia and 4.15 grams of methamphetamine were recovered from Kuck’s person at the jail.
Kuck was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, including heroin, felony possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. She was taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
Martinez was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, including heroin, felony drug trafficking in cocaine, felony drug trafficking in methamphetamine, felony possession of stolen property, felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Martinez also had an outstanding Bonneville County warrant with an original charge of drug trafficking with a $500,000 bond. He was booked into the Bonneville County Jail.