June 21, 2000
Police say they may have foiled a plot to kill a Highway Patrol trooper, and did it just in time.
Four people face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
Crime Specialist Karen Scullin tells us how this* bizarre plan and others were almost carried out.
Early this morning, SWAT teams converged on a home. Four people were arrested. But police believe
Mathew Despain was the mastermind behind a plan to kill a Utah Highway Patrol trooper.
Sgt. Darren Carr/Salt Lake Co. Narcotics Unit: HE HAD MADE STATEMENTS THAT HE WAS READY TO TAKE DOWN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT MIGHT COME ON TO HIS PROPERTY. SO WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, HIT HIM FAST AND HIT HIM HEAVY.
An informant tipped off police to the plan a few weeks ago. He* was supposed to be the hit man, and kill the trooper as soon as possible.
Sgt. Darren Carr: WE FOUND OUT THAT GUNS WERE BEING GIVEN AND PLANS WERE BEING MADE TO KILL THE TROOPER. WE FELT WE HAD TO ACT VERY FAST AT THAT POINT.
Don Mendrala/D.E.A.: HE HAD THE WAYS AND MEANS TO CARRY THIS OUT.
But police say there was also another bizarre plan developing. Detectives believe Despain despises government.
Sgt. Darren Carr: HE WAS FORMULATING A PLAN TO ACTUALLY BLOW UP COURTHOUSES. HE USED TO WORK FOR MCKAY DEMOLITION, SO WE FEEL IT GAVE HIM THE EXPERTISE TO CARRY OUT THAT PLAN.
It's believed Despain was using and manufacturing methamphetamine, the product to be used as part of the payment for killing the trooper.
Don Mendrala/D.E.A.: IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED THAT METHAMPHETAMINE GENERATES PARANOIA. I THINK THAT'S WHAT GENERATED A LOT OF THE MISTRUST HERE. THE THING HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR GOING OUT OF
CONTROL.
The Highway Patrol says the trooper, who was the target of the plot only made contact with Despain twice when he ticketed the man for driving under the influence.
