Fugitive arrested with 3 swords ‘concealed in his pants,’ drug paraphernalia

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — Officials with the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office arrested a fugitive on Wednesday who was reportedly hiding several swords — along with drug paraphernalia — in his pants.

Chad Eugene Ginter, 51, was arrested on three counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, all third-degree felonies; one count of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and one count of use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.

According to arrest documents filed in Tooele County, Ginter had several warrants out for his arrest and was a fugitive from Adult Probation and Parole .

The officer who arrested Ginter knew of the warrants and, during the arrest, the officer “located three Katana style swords he had concealed in his pants,” documents said.

Each of the swords had “sharp edges,” which classified them as dangerous weapons, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

During the officer’s search, a glass pipe “with burnt drug residue” and a “plastic tooter” were also found — and arrest documents said the items were “commonly used for the smoking of illegal substances.”

After he was taken to a detention center, Ginter reportedly said that he knew officers were going to arrest him, and ingested three fentanyl pills after he saw officers. Arrest documents said Ginter “destroyed evidence” by ingesting the fentanyl.

Documents further clarified that Ginter was a “restricted person” because of his probation status, which meant he was not allowed to possess dangerous or deadly weapons such as the swords he had allegedly hidden in his pants.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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