Man arrested after police say he tried to flush fentanyl down a toilet

IDAHO FALLS — A 37-year-old man was arrested Friday after police say they found him trying to flush fentanyl down a toilet.

Jason Cartier is charged with felonies for possession of a controlled substance and destruction of evidence, and one misdemeanor for resisting or obstructing officers.

According to a news release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a home on the 800 block of Eden Drive before 7 p.m. Friday after receiving a report that a wanted person, identified as Cartier, was there.

After arriving, a resident stated that Cartier was in the living room, and deputies began giving him verbal commands.

“Cartier refused deputies’ commands, and as he started running toward the back of the residence, a deputy attempted to stop him by deploying his Taser,” according to the release.

Cartier was able to make it to a bathroom, where he reportedly barricaded himself inside. Deputies forced their way through the bathroom door, where they allegedly found Cartier trying to flush items down the toilet. Deputies then deployed the Taser a second time to take him into custody.

Deputies say they found a broken glass vial and a pill in the toilet that tested positive for fentanyl.

Cartier was taken to a local hospital for medical clearance before being transported to the Bonneville County Jail on a $30,000 bond. He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 21. If convicted, he could face up to 13 years in prison.

Though Cartier has been charged with these crimes, this does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.