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Couple arrested after dining at Denny’s with drug paraphernalia in view

Posted at 2:44 PM, Jan 02, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-02 16:44:31-05

SALT LAKE CITY – Two people are facing felony drug charges after they were spotted eating dinner in a restaurant while drug paraphernalia they had with them was visible.

Police said they were contacted by a concerned citizen around 1:30 a.m. Friday to respond to a Denny’s restaurant at 2025 S. 900 West in Salt Lake City.

The caller said the couple had suspicious paraphernalia out in the open, including syringes.

Det. Dennis McGowan, Salt Lake City Police Department, said officers interviewed the couple and found methamphetamine and heroin along with packaging, scales, syringes and needles. He said the amount of drugs and paraphernalia suggests the couple was not only doing drugs, but selling them as well.

McGowan said police work often relies on tips from citizens, as in this case.

“The police department can’t do its job without members of the community stepping up, and that’s what occurred this morning,” he said. “Some alert citizens saw a bunch of syringes and saw the couple there in the restaurant, and somehow the syringes were out in plain view, and the person saw that and decided: This doesn’t look right, call the police.”

McGowan said people should always call police when they see something suspicious, even if they have doubts about what they are seeing.

According to statements of probable cause, Megan Brianne Camden, 27, was booked into jail on one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She also faces possession of amphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute as second-degree felonies. Samuel Neil Christensen, 44, faces one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one felony count of possession of amphetamine with the intent to distribute. The document states he also has a felony hold from Adult Probation and Parole.