Hurricane man who tested positive for COVID-19 defies quarantine; police to enforce criminal charges

April 2, 2020 Utah Channel 3

HURRICANE — Hurricane City Police Chief Lynn Excell announced Thursday evening during the Hurricane City Council meeting that a man who has tested positive for COVID-19 has been seen in the community, and they plan to charge him with criminal offenses for not obeying the quarantine order issued Wednesday by Gov. Gary Herbert Wednesday.

Excell said the most recent data of people infected with the coronavirus showed 30 in the region, seven hospitalizations and one death. In Hurricane, there are two people in isolation and three under quarantine, of which there have been some issues, he said.

After Gov. Gary Herbert issued an order Wednesday at 3 p.m., it is now a “criminal offense for someone to be under quarantine and be out in our community,” Excell said. “I notified one person today that we’re having an intense problem with, sent him copies of it (the order). I’ve got zero back from him. They wouldn’t take my call, but I did leave messages.”

He said the department would file criminal charges every time the person is seen out in the community.

“Within probably the last three hours, they were right here in front of our building at the rental equipment store,” Excell said.

There is another man who they have had some trouble with, he said, but he goes off quarantine on Friday. The man said he wouldn’t go to the mailbox or leave his house until he’s cleared.

Council member Joseph Prete asked Excell about the criminal offense for people under quarantine.

“That’s not just for the two who have coronavirus but for anybody that’s on quarantine?” Prete asked.

Excell said that anybody directed by the Southwest Public Health Department to be under quarantine is subject to being charged with a class B misdemeanor for the first violation and a class A misdemeanor after that.

“So that would include returned missionaries?” Prete asked.

“Yeah, it would,” Excell said. “If the state health department has ordered them to be home, and they’re out walking in the community – yes, they could be criminally charged as well.”

Excell said the police department is taking this seriously, and they are going to do everything they can to protect the health, safety and well-being of the community.

In other related business, Excell also gave updates Thursday on how the city is preparing for and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said they are working with the police officers to let them know the proper times to put on the protective gear.

In general, calls for service are on the down slope, Excell said. However, family fights, suspicious incidents and psychiatric calls have seen an increase in the city.

Excell said this is the third big disaster he has gone through during his career with the Hurricane City Police Department.

“A lot of people got caught behind the 8-ball on this one, for a lot reasons,” he said, “but we’re doing our very best to try to get supplies for everybody in the city – as far as the city crews. And as things possibly free up, we want to make sure families are protected.”

Excell said that he’s been impressed by the local outreach and support. Walmart made them aware Thursday that they were planning to donate a fair amount of disinfectant products to the police department, and Hurricane Family Pharmacy has made hand sanitizer that they donated to the police department.

The pharmacy also has the sanitizer for sale. “It’s not cheap, but they’ve got it,” Excell said.

The Utah Attorney General’s Office is also working to send supplies, including between 200 to 500 N95 respirator masks, he said, adding that he got a call from the health department in order to update all the points of distribution.

“There’s only a few times they want to update the numbers and make sure everything’s correct for the POD (points of distribution),” he said. “I don’t know whether something’s coming down the road or not, but we are ready.”