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The Latest: Man mistakenly accused of drugging officer talks

CLEARFIELD, Utah - The Latest on a Utah man accused of drugging a police officer's drink being cleared (all times local):

5:05 p.m.

A Utah man who was mistakenly arrested on accusations that he drugged a police officer's drink at a sandwich shop says he hardly left the house the last two months because he feared for his safety after receiving death threats.

The 18-year-old Tanis Ukena spoke Tuesday at his attorney's office hours after Layton police announced they would not seek charges.

Ukena was arrested on Aug. 8 after a police sergeant reported feeling impaired immediately after Ukena served him a lemonade at a Subway.

Flanked by his parents, Ukena said he supports law enforcement, but he is disappointed how Layton police handled his case and that they aren't apologizing.

His mother, Heather Ukena, called the experience a living nightmare. His father, Landy Ukena, says his son's case shows police must be more cautious and thorough.

Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman said Tuesday the case was closed after state lab results couldn't confirm that the officer's drink had methamphetamine and THC, findings from initial field tests that led police to arrest Tanis Ukena.

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11:14 a.m.

Utah police say they won't be filing any charges against a sandwich-shop worker accused of drugging a police officer's drink with methamphetamine and THC because they can't confirm the lemonade was actually contaminated.

Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman said Tuesday that initial lab tests showed a foreign substance in the drink from Subway, but those results couldn't be duplicated.

Eighteen-year-old Tanis Ukena was arrested Aug. 8 after a police sergeant reported feeling impaired immediately after getting the drink.

Authorities said the officer, whose name was not released, struggled to find the brake pedal of his patrol car at a red light and couldn't answer questions at the police station.

Ukena's lawyer has said his client is a good kid who had no reason to target a police officer and didn't put anything in the drink.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016
The Associated Press

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