By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner
LAYTON, Utah — A Layton police officer is home recovering after possibly having drugs added to his drink by an 18-year-old Subway employee.
Tanis Lloyd Ukena is accused of putting methamphetamine and THC in a Layton police sergeant’s lemonade Monday at the Subway drive-thru, 1142 E. Route 193 in Layton. He was booked in the Davis County Jail on one count of surreptitious administering of poisonous substance, a second-degree felony.
The sergeant called Layton dispatch because he felt sick and wanted to be checked out, Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman said. He told investigators after going through the drive-thru at 12:20 p.m. and taking several sips of his drink, he felt like he had been drugged and had difficulty braking at an intersection, according to the probable cause statement filed with the jail.
Other officers met with the sergeant and could see he was showing signs of impairment, Lyman said.
They took the sergeant, who has worked at Layton Police Department for more than 8 years, to a nearby medical office. He had trouble focusing, could not feel his feet and was unable to use his arms and hands. He was then taken to Davis Hospital and Medical Center, Lyman said, and was released Monday evening.
Several detectives, along with a supervisor, interviewed Subway employees and looked at surveillance video, Lyman said.
Surveillance video showed the sergeant placing his order and Ukena at the drive-up cash register, according to the probable cause statement. Officers could see Ukena filling the drink at the drive-up fountain, then walking away from the fountain and out of the camera’s view.
Ukena then returned to the drink “where he is seen spending what seems to be an unusual amount of time getting it ready to deliver” to the police sergeant, officers wrote in the document.
Two tests on samples of the drink tested positive for methamphetamine and THC, Lyman said. Officers do not know how much of the substances were in the drink, the strength of those substances or if there was anything else added. The drink was sent to the state crime lab for further testing.
Lyman said management and employees at the Subway, including Ukena, were cooperative during the investigation. He denied putting anything in the officer’s drink but acknowledged placing his order, according to the document.
Investigators do not know if the sergeant was targeted, Lyman said, adding that officers do not go to that particular Subway on a regular basis.
Lyman said overall, Layton police enjoy a “positive relationship with the community.”
The sergeant took Tuesday off because he was still feeling ill and would be off at least two more days, but he’s expected to make a full recovery, he said.
Police are not releasing the sergeant’s name.
Subway responded by email Tuesday with a statement from Shawn Cook of Subway Development of Utah.
“We are shocked by these charges. Our thoughts are with the Sergeant and his family and we are hoping for a quick recovery,” the statement said. “The restaurant owners are working closely with the police in their investigation and will take appropriate action.”
According to court records, Ukena’s only offenses are two traffic citations. He was released after posting a $10,000 bail. The Davis County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case before filing formal charges in 2nd District Court.