Two people arrested for attempted drug trafficking in elementary school parking lot

IDAHO FALLS – Two men were arrested after police reportedly caught them attempting to smuggle drugs in the parking lot of a local elementary school.

Ryler Kenneth Jensen was charged with aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine or amphetamine and use or possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use.

Joshua Burnside was charged with possession of a controlled substance and use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, on July 6 at around 10:50 p.m., several detectives were conducting surveillance on a home in the 200 block of Placer Avenue.

An Idaho Falls Police sergeant had obtained a search warrant for the house because a man named Burnside who lived there was allegedly selling drugs.

A detective eventually noticed a man, later identified as Jensen, walking toward the home from Pine Street and stopping in front of the house. Burnside was not seen leaving the home, but his vehicle, a tan GMC Envoy with no license plate, picked up Jensen in front of the home.

The GMC then left the area and parked in the Hawthorne Elementary School parking lot. The car turned off its headlights but continued running.

Burnside and Jensen were in the car when the sergeant arrived on the scene and approached the GMC. Jensen allegedly told the sergeant that Burnside would give him a ride to a Bird electric scooter in the area. Officers were unable to locate a Bird scooter in the area.

According to police reports, officers knew that “Burnside has a long history of drug use” and said the trip to the parking lot was “consistent with a drug sale.”

Another officer arrived and arrested Jensen. While searching him and his property, the officer reportedly found “a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine, baggies, a scale, and syringes” in Jensen’s backpack.

The subsequent drug test showed a positive level of methamphetamine and a weight of 212 grams. Jensen and Burnside were both arrested and taken to the Bonneville County Jail.

Jensen was held on $50,000 bail and Burnside was held on $20,000 bail.

Both are scheduled to appear for their preliminary hearings on July 19. If convicted, Jensen could face a life sentence in prison, while Burnside could face up to eight years in prison.

Although Jensen and Burnside are accused of these crimes, that does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.