ST. GEORGE — A 31-year-old man in jail in Washington County was re-booked with 18 new charges Friday following an investigation into a reported shooting that occurred Christmas Day. The charges add to a previous weapon’s charge, drug-related charges and a child abuse charge brought against the man earlier in December.
Eldrick Kendrell Anthony was charged Friday after the Washington County Drug Task Force learned of the shooting incident that allegedly occurred near 1000 N. 1725 W. in St. George. Anthony was positively identified in connection with the incident by witnesses who know him, according to a statement released by St. George Police Capt. Kyle Whitehead.
Jan. 2 in-custody arrest / new charges
Friday’s added charges stem from Anthony entering a residence by force on Dec. 25, according to witnesses, Whitehead’s statement said.
Anthony was confronted by the homeowner outside the residence and told to leave, according to the statement. Instead of leaving, he allegedly opened the door to the residence and entered while holding a handgun.
An altercation followed, and Anthony allegedly pointed the loaded handgun directly at two men who were inside the residence. The altercation continued outside in the parking lot, where the men attempted to get Anthony to leave the area, Whitehead’s statement said. According to witnesses, it said, Anthony fired a single round at the men.
Both men told police Anthony had pointed the handgun directly at them when firing. During this incident, Anthony also allegedly pointed the gun toward other adults and children who were nearby.
Detectives determined seven children between the ages of 3 and 14 were directly in the line of fire when Anthony discharged the handgun, Whitehead said.
Anthony also allegedly threatened the adults involved, saying he had police influence and would use it against them. For that reason, the victims were afraid to contact the Police Department and did not report the incident at that time.
Detectives reportedly located one witness who said Anthony had illegally purchased the handgun he used during the altercation.
Anthony has numerous previous felony convictions that prohibit him from owning or possessing a firearm. Detectives found he had tried to conceal and destroy the handgun after the incident, Whitehead’s statement said.
The Task Force charged Anthony Friday with a first-degree felony for aggravated burglary, 11 third-degree felonies for aggravated assault, four third-degree felonies for witness tampering, one third-degree felony for discharging a weapon, and one class B misdemeanor for discharging a weapon within the city.
As this report is published, Anthony is being held on the Jan. 2 charges without right to bail. The county attorney has not yet filed charges on the Jan. 2 arrest.
Dec. 31 arrest
Before the Jan. 2 charges were added, Anthony was already in custody on an arrest made by the Task Force on New Year’s Eve following an investigation in which three confidential sources reported him for firearm violations within the preceding seven days.
According to a probable cause statement written by Jason Jarvie of the Washington County Drug Task Force, information gathered from three confidential informants, each of who was unaware of the others’ involvement, told police that Anthony had possessed a firearm and also attempted to conceal or destroy evidence.
One of the informants reported “witnessing suspect Eldrick Anthony in possession of the firearm, as well as, discharging the firearm at (a) living human being,” Jarvie wrote in the statement.
The Task Force executed a search warrant and found and recovered the firearm Anthony had allegedly used, and Anthony was located and arrested near Exit 6 of Interstate 15 on Dec. 31.
At the time of his arrest, Anthony had left his three children, ages 6, 5 and 2, alone in a motel, according to Jarvie’s probable cause statement.
Anthony was charged by the county attorney on Dec. 31 with three counts: a second-degree felony for possessing a weapon as a restricted person, a third-degree felony for obstruction of justice, and a class A misdemeanor for child abuse.
According to the probable cause statement, District Judge John Walton set bail for the Dec. 31 charges at $100,000. That bail has not been posted. As long as the no-bail order is in place on the Jan. 2 charges, Anthony cannot be released even if he posts the $100,000 bail.
Dec. 11 arrest
Earlier in the month, Anthony had been arrested on Dec. 11, 2014, and charged by the county attorney in two separate filings. Both cases charge Anthony with a first-degree felony for distributing or arranging to distribute methamphetamine, with prior distribution. Anthony was released on two $20,000 bail bonds, one in each case, until he was later arrested on Dec. 31 on the weapon’s, obstruction of justice and child abuse charges.
History of legal confrontations
Utah Court records indicate numerous criminal and civil cases brought against Anthony over the past decade.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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We have very few African Americans and what does this tell us?
Please enlighten us?
I cant stand this close minded state, and I am a Christian. Southern Utah is the most rural and smallest community I have ever lived in. Its also the most close minded, good ol’ boy, judgmental, and whitest community I have ever lived in. Most of the “druggies” I see on this news site are white or Hispanic, not because whites or Hispanics are worse, just more of us here. There are more blacks or “African-Americans” incarcerated where a larger population of them live. Use your head “Maryjane”!!! My neighbors a few houses down are black and really nice hard working family. The father works two jobs to take care of his family and his wife works full time! They have really well behaved kids and are as Christian as anyone else here. We tease each other over our favorite teams and poke fun. I get offended when I see other people in our neighborhood treat them the way they do, I can only imagine how they feel. I am getting to the point this southern Utah community makes me sick! Especially people like you miss “maryjane”!!!!!!!!!!
Well no one says you have to live here and maryjane doesn’t have to live her life according to your expectations either
Burton. chill out. pack up and move problem solved. have a nice day
Trust me folks, if circumstances didn’t dictate that I live in this state I wouldn’t. Sometimes you don’t have a choice where your job plants you. Of course I guess I could just quit and do whatever feels good and live off the government and let you guys pay for me and my family instead of working in a place I don’t want to be. You pick, which would you rather? people who pay their own way or someone who just does whatever feels good because living in a place as backwards as this is disgusting!
I don’t know, what does this tell us?
Please what are you trying to get at with this comment?
Nothing.
We have had only 2 flying saucers land on this planet and what does this tell us.?
It tells me you’re a race baiter.
That people here hate blacks as instructed by their religion?
Koolaid you live here so I assume you are speaking for yourself and whatever religion you belong to. You should join the LDS faith and you won’t have that problem. Love all of God’s children.
MARYJANE you are a racists!! look at the jail roster you idiot! you find more whites and any other color!
1000 N 1725 W is within 1,000 feet of the Dixie Sun Elementary School. Wouldn’t every single one of the 18 charges be enhanced to the next degree?
I think only drug charges are enhanced.
Only for beauty related schools.
Scum bag!!!
Future city council material
Is it racist to point out statistics? If I say more black males are in prison than in college, which is a fact, am I racist? Am I a racist if I point to metropolitan areas in our country with the same population as St. George, but with very different demographics, that have crime rates through the roof? There is a very real problem in this country, and it has to do with culture. Sure there is the argument of oppression, but what it really comes down to is responsibility. You want to change this perception? Quit commiting so many crimes.
Sounds like he has a hard time learning to me. Time for his big (house) lesson.