Mother, son accused of selling drugs to teens

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A mother and son accused of selling thousands of prescription pain pills to teenagers were arrested Friday.

Luanne Olson, 48, and her son, Jace Olson, 19, were arrested about 11:30 a.m. at their house near 7100 South and 2400 East, where investigators say for at least a year they had been operating a large drug-distribution business, selling oxycodone and OxyContin to juveniles and young adults.

Detectives have identified at least two dozen young people who they believe have purchased drugs from the house. Most are high-school age or in their late teens and early 20s, said Cottonwood Heights police officer Beau Babka. The youngest identified buyer was 15.

Tips from neighbors reporting high traffic in front of the house prompted an investigation about a month ago, Babka said. Undercover officers were able to make their own buys directly from the house.

"You see all the young people coming from the high schools," said one neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. "All sorts of cars. Right after school or on weekends. I'm glad to see (the arrests) happen."

A search warrant Friday unveiled a few thousand pills and a very large amount of cash inside the house, Babka said.

"They were distributing a very large amount of drugs," he said. "This seems to be the shop."

He called the mother-son team "very brazen" for essentially selling the drugs right out in the open in the neighborhood. A lot of their clients would learn of the drug-selling house by word of mouth from other juveniles, Babka said.

Babka did not say which schools the students who bought the drugs attended. But investigators say they have all been identified as living on the east side and coming from several schools.

Brighton High School is near the Olson house, as is Butler Middle School and Butler Elementary. There was no evidence Friday that drugs had ever been sold to the elementary or middle school students, Babka said. But he noted that because of the schools' proximity to the house, it could enhance the charges.

Luanne Olson's husband lived in the home but apparently was unaware of what was happening and was not arrested, according to police. He was not home when police arrived but was called after Luanne and Jace Olson were arrested. He arrived a short time later, walking past members of the media without comment.

Police said they began investigating the Olsons about a month ago after neighbors, and even some juveniles, stepped forward.

An investigation into who was supplying the drugs to the Olsons was continuing, Babka said.

Most neighbors who spoke to the Deseret News wanted to remain anonymous for their own protection. Many said they always suspected drug activity was happening at the house. Others said the arrests came as a complete shock.

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