The Zion Times

CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS ON RELATION TO GYM RAID

By: Sachet A. Sullivan
A raid conducted on the Retro Fitness gym ended in back-to-back arrests after investigators were unable to find anything illegal during the search.

The operation, carried out by Cedar City police and the Iron-Garfield-Beaver Narcotics Task Force, began with the execution of a search warrant at the South Main Street gym on Wednesday afternoon. 

Chandler Jacob Corey, 26, and Bevan Wayne Cox, 45, were both booked into the Iron County Jail on separate but conflicting incidents following the multi-agency raid. 

While Corey was arrested immediately following the raid, Cox was not taken into custody until Friday morning after a no-bail warrant was issued. 

According to court documents, Cox’s arrest stemmed from a January 1 incident in Layton, where Cox had been arrested following an altercation with an ex-girlfriend.

In the state’s request for pre-trial detention, they argued Cox had allegedly violated the terms of his pre-trial sentence when he was arrested in Layton on New Year’s Day. The prosecution highlighted multiple factors in their request for pre-trial detention noting alleged domestic violence, suicidal ideation, firearms, narcotics and alcohol.

However, the Davis County charging document does not give any indication that Cox was in possession of a firearm or under the influence of drugs or alcohol during this incident.

The documents are unclear on what led up to the incident. However, the states motion cites an audio recording reportedly taken during the incident where the woman and Bevan are heard fighting over the alleged firearm.

Cox’s attorney, Jack Burns, filed a memorandum challenging the state’s claims, alleging that the altercation began when Cox was retrieving belongings from his ex-girlfriend’s home. 

The memorandum alleges the woman attacked Cox, who claimed he tried to block her punches without dropping the clothes he was holding. During the struggle, a hanger on one of the clothing items accidentally cut her face.

The filing accuses the woman of fabricating claims to trigger the Retro Fitness raid, stating, “The search warrant did not produce any evidence of illegal conduct.”

It also indicates that after Cox allegedly broke up with the woman, she threatened, “to ruin his life and accuse him of all the things his ex-wife did and more.”

Additionally, the court document notes that after the incident, the woman reportedly made allegations to Cedar City Police that resulted in the warrant executed on Retro Fitness.

“The search warrant did not produce any evidence of illegal conduct of which J.B. has falsely accused the Defendant” the memorandum states.

The memorandum also addresses the alleged audio recording stating it was from an incident more than a year and a half ago and was already considered in his initial case.

“It cannot be used now, more than a year and a half later, to revoke bail” the memorandum reads, also indicating that a witness in the matter, told authorities the firearm incident never took place.

The judge signed the warrant Thursday evening and Cox turned himself in to authorities Friday. He is now awaiting a formal hearing to plead his case. 

The Gym Search

According to court records filed in 5th District Court, police executed a search warrant on the gym Wednesday afternoon.

During the search Cox, who was allegedly the subject of the investigation, was detained and placed in the back of a patrol truck while officers examined the premises.

Outside the gym, employees of the gym were seen being detained and having their vehicles searched. It is unclear whether these individuals consented to the search freely. 

Guests also had their belongings searched. There are conflicting accounts on whether these searches were based upon the consent of gym members or were required by law enforcement.

Cox issued a formal apology to the members of his gym who were searched during the raid, saying “I do think it’s troubling and I have spoken with my manager and we have had many reports that individual members were searched. I didn’t have any control over that, but I do apologize to them because I don’t feel like that’s right” the statement reads.

Despite a K-9 indicating the odor of narcotics, police found no illegal drugs. 

“During the search a k9 was used for a free air sniff and showed indicators to the odor of narcotics but none were found” the affidavit states.

Informant Arrested for Alleged Obstruction

Charging documents state that during the raid, Cox and another employee told investigators that Cory had warned them the “Task Force was looking at them for the distribution of illegal enhancement drugs such as steroids and cocaine.”

Police had recruited Cory to aid in an investigation of Retro Fitness after hearing about the alleged drug-activities taking place there. Cory reportedly agreed to exchange information with the task force for a lesser sentence on a DUI charge he got last month.

Cory reportedly confirmed he had told Cox that the task force was “looking into him” and he and other employees should “lay low.” 

As a result, investigators believe any drugs that may have been there were disposed of. 

“There is a strong possibility that any narcotics that were at Retro Fitness recently were destroyed due to Cj telling them about the investigation” the affidavit states.

Following the raid, police went to Cory’s home where they met an Enoch City Police Officer already waiting on scene. 

After a short time, investigators were seen leaving the home with Cory in handcuffs while they searched his vehicle.

In an interview with TZT, Task Force Commander, Sgt. Zac Adams was asked whether law enforcement is adopting a stricter stance on handling informants.

“While I can’t comment on ongoing investigations, in a broad sense we take being an informant very seriously, we have to keep people safe,” Adams said. “We don’t want people comfortable committing crimes.”

Cory was arrested on two third-degree felonies for interfering with an arrest. His charges were later changed to reflect one third-degree felony for obstruction of justice.

In an interview conducted with TZT, Cox, who was present with his attorney, stated that they had not yet seen the warrant but believed the investigation was based on the accusations of the scorned girlfriend.

Cox Defends Gym Amid Ongoing Legal Battles

Court records show Cox successfully completed a substance abuse treatment program in April, 2024. Progress reports from treatment providers indicate during his time in treatment he was actively engaged in his recovery.

A review of Cox’ criminal history illustrates that since the time Cox completed treatment, he has not been involved in any criminal activity until recently. 

In an official statement released by Cox, he stated “Retro Fitness is purely focused on people’s health and fitness and illegal drugs have no place in this business. There was nothing illegal found during the search in which they shut my business down for several hours and I was eventually released. Again, I don’t know exactly what the allegations were in the application for the search warrant, but I know they had to have been false because the search warrant was for illegal drugs, and I have nothing to do with illegal drugs.”

INDIVIDUALS LISTED ON THIS PAGE HAVE BEEN BOOKED INTO IRON COUNTY JAIL AND ARE ACCUSED OF THE FOLLOWING CRIMES BUT ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.