Man arrested after jumping into Colorado River ‘with a bag of drugs,’ police say

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — A 35-year-old man who jumped into the Colorado River “with a bag of drugs” as he tried to escape police in Laughlin is in custody and authorities are on the lookout for an accomplice.

Bullhead City police said Monday that Thomas Raymond Morgan was arrested on Thursday, June 27, in an investigation that also involved the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. Morgan faces new charges after a vacuum-sealed package containing about 1,000 blue M-30 counterfeit fentanyl pills was recovered from the river.

Morgan was arrested on a charge of unlawful flight from law enforcement, and other charges are likely to be filed. He also faces older drug charges and one assault charge.

Detectives from the Bullhead City Police MAGNET (Mohave Area General Narcotic Enforcement Team) had been investigating Morgan and Ashley Fay Nail, 33, in connection with drug sales in the Bullhead City/Tri-State area. There were several outstanding felony warrants for their arrest.

At about 7 a.m. on June 27, the couple fled Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies who had tried to stop their vehicle. At 8:30 a.m., Bullhead City detectives spotted their vehicle and tried to stop them, but the couple fled again. A chase through Bullhead City followed involving police and an Arizona state trooper. The suspects’ vehicle clipped another vehicle at Bullhead Parkway and Highway 95, but no injuries were reported.

Morgan and Nail continued on and crossed the Laughlin Bridge and abandoned the vehicle in the 1400 block of Casino Drive in Laughlin, fleeing on foot. As Morgan ran away, he jumped into the river before surrendering to officers.

Bullhead City Police boat officers and a dive team were deployed to search the river for possible additional drugs or evidence.

Police are looking for Nail, and anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Bullhead City Police Department at (928) 763-1999.

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