An intoxicated man in Vernal who was out looking for a fight earlier this month found himself arrested as a result. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, officers were called to a Naples residence on 2000 East on a report of a man who threw a beer can at a home and left the area when confronted. The man matching the suspect’s description waved down the officer and the officer spoke with him but as the man did not have any alcohol cans with him, he was released without further incident. About half an hour later, a report came in that a male subject matching the suspect’s description had gone to the 7-11 at 500 East Main in Vernal and took a 30 pack of Bud Light beer, a box of cigarettes, and a taquito before leaving the area west bound on 100 North. The officer found the suspect at the Uintah County Library with the stolen items, minus the taquito. He was drinking a beer and asked the officer if he wanted to fight. He admitted to stealing the beer and continued escalating his taunts of wanting to fight the officer. He was assisted to the ground, placed into handcuffs, and escorted to the patrol vehicle. Once inside the vehicle he continued his statements of wanting to fight and began hitting his head on the patrol vehicle window. 40-year-old Landon Paul Waddell was booked into Uintah County Jail and is charged with Public Intoxication and 3rd Degree Felony Retail Theft. The felony status was due to having multiple previous convictions in the last 10 years.
