Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Sheriff's Office Lobby Closure

Sheriff's Office Records and Civil Departments Closed for Thanksgiving and Hanukkah!

The Sheriff's Office lobby including Records, and Civil will be closed in observance of the holidays on Thursday November 28 and 29th.

For those of you wanting to visit friends or family, inmate visitation hours will resume on Friday November 29th.

The Sheriff's Office will resume normal business hours on Monday December 2nd at 9:00am.

Although our records department will be closed our outstanding Deputies who patrol the street and work in the Detention Facility will still be hard at work.

The Sheriff's Office wishes you a happy and safe holiday season!



Friday, November 22, 2013

High Risk Inmate Has Medical Issue On Transport Last Night

Inmate Transport Delayed In Arrival To Mesa County


Mesa County, Colo.-- On November 21, 2013, Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies were transporting three inmates back from different facilities in the Pueblo/Canyon City area, en-route back to our facility. During the transport, deputies noticed one inmate showing signs of distress. 
Dartanin Mitchell, 35, photo taken July 2013

In Gunnison, Colo., the transport deputies secured two of the inmates in the Gunnison County Detention Facility  while taking the third inmate to the emergency room at the Gunnison Valley Hospital. Under guard by our deputies and local Gunnison law enforcement, the inmate was diagnosed by medical professionals and stabilized for medical ambulance transport to continue travel into Grand Junction. Indications and our belief is that a substance(s) was ingested by the inmate at a facility prior to being picked up by our agency transport deputies.

The ill inmate, Dartanin Duran Mitchell, 35, is considered high risk. He previously escaped from custody of a private transport contractor in the Kansas area, and was apprehended in the Denver Metro area. He currently is serving a prison sentence for armed robberies and assaults that he committed while on escape status in the Denver area. He was being brought to Mesa County for an upcoming court hearing associated with a local case. He currently has multiple on-going cases in our local court system. 

For security reasons, the transport team was augmented with the assistance of Gunnison and Montrose County law enforcement agencies as our transport van and ambulance caravanned to Grand Junction. Gunnison authorities escorted to the Montrose County line where Montrose Sheriff’s Office deputies escorted into the Montrose area. The transport team was met by our agency deputies in Montrose County and escorted the group back to our area. 

Upon return to Grand Junction, Mitchell was admitted into a local hospital and currently is under heavy guard by our deputies. Upon medical release, Mitchell will be booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility. The other two inmates were immediately booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility after arriving back in the County, without incident. 

The Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the Gunnison Valley Hospital EMS Service, Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, Gunnison Police Department, Gunnison County Dispatch, Montrose County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Junction Regional Communications Center for their direct assistance in assuring safe transport back to Mesa County.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate what substance may have been taken by Mitchell and has notified the Colorado Department of Corrections facility that he was picked up from of this incident.   

Monday, November 18, 2013

Interstate Interdiction Nets Cocaine

Devin James, 22, of Fruita

Drug Task Force Deputies Arrest Two With Cocaine

Mesa County, Colo. -- On Sunday evening, about 7 p.m., deputies with the Western Colorado Drug Task Force stopped a vehicle just off the Clifton exit ramp of I-70. The vehicle had one passenger in addition to the driver. 

Aurielle Duncan, 22 of Grand Jct.
The driver was identified as 22-year-old Aurielle Duncan, of Grand Junction, and the passenger was Devin James, 22, of Fruita. Ultimately, a dog trained in the detection of multiple types of drugs was used to search the vehicle, and alerted positive. The deputies located approximately 230 grams of cocaine in a brown bag, inside the vehicle. The street value of that amount of cocaine is approximately $23,000.00.

Aurielle was charged with two traffic infractions and both suspects were charged with distribution with intent to distribute the cocaine. You can get the most up-to-date inmate information on our website using the Inmate Inquiry System.

Also, for all the latest in emergency happenings in #MesaCounty, follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Separate Arrests On Drug Charges

Patrol & Street Crimes Made Drug Arrests

Mesa County, Colo. -- Patrol deputies responding to the 2900 block of Dawn Drive for a dispute between two adults, determined the female they contacted at the address where the dispute was reported, was Chaia Stewart, 30, of Grand Junction. After running her information through dispatch, deputies were made aware she had an active warrant for her arrest. 
Chaia Stewart, 30, of Grand Jct.

Deputies witnessed signs of Chaia being under the influence of drugs and before placing her in their patrol car they located prescription pills in a pocket of her clothing. During the booking process, detention deputies located syringes and methamphetamine, on her person.

Chaia was not only booked on her outstanding warrant, but for two charges of introducing contraband and drug paraphernalia, into the Detention Facility. She was previously arrested by the Grand Junction Police Department on June 24, 2013, and booked into the Detention Facility on charges related to methamphetamine, theft and burglary. 

Derek Cuppett, 20, of Grand Jct.
Just before midnight, deputies with the MCSO Street Crimes Unit stopped a vehicle near the corner of Grand Avenue and N. 26th Street, for traffic infractions. The driver, Derek Cuppett, 20, of Grand Junction, was issued a ticket for those sub-standard driving skills.

Derek's passenger, Vanessa Lopez, 22, was arrested for outstanding warrants. In addition, deputies located various prescription pills and arrested Derek on charges related to possession of schedule 2 and 3 drugs, and driving while license suspended. Derek was previously arrested twice in October and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility by the Grand Junction Police Department. On October 26, 2013, Derek was arrested for possession of controlled substance schedule 2 and 4, along with a failure to appear (in court) warrant. Previous to that, he was arrested on October 9, 2013, for criminal trespass and theft related charges.

For bond information on these arrests or any others currently in our Detention Facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry System webpage. And, follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesa Colo using #GVCopBeat and #MesaCounty for all the latest emergency news in the County.

Second Arrest In Eight Days

21-Year-Old Man Arrested Again By MCSO

Marquelle "Mark" Rodriguez, 21 of Grand Jct.
Mesa County, Colo. -- Yesterday afternoon, Sheriff's Office investigators booked 21-year-old Marquelle "Mark" Rodriguez, of Grand Junction, into the Mesa County Detention Facility on charges related to stealing a truck and providing a (stolen) handgun to a teenager. Deputies investigating this case recovered the stolen handgun from the teenagers home without incident. The handgun was in the truck investigators believe Mark stole and multiple witnesses gave deputies the same statement about Mark giving the gun to the teenager after finding it in the stolen truck.

Mark was previously arrested by patrol deputies for multiple charges related to domestic violence and violating restraining orders, on November 6, 2013. That arrest was just eight days prior to his booking yesterday.

You can obtain bond information about Mark or other inmates in our facility through our Inmate Inquiry System on our website. And, be sure to follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat and #MesaCounty for all the latest emergency news in Mesa County.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Free Community Class For Parents And Teens, Nov 19th

Second Class In Three Part Series, Free Community Class On Rx & Heroin Abuse


Mesa County, Colo.-- The Sheriff's Office and Crime Stoppers of Mesa County are hosting the second class in a three part series of the monthly community classes. The topic remains: Teens and Prescription Drugs/Heroin Abuse. The third class in this series will be held in December.

The upcoming class is November 19, 2013, at Canyon View Vineyard Church Chapel, 736 24.5 Road, Grand Junction, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This class will focus on Opiate-based Prescription Drugs that are becoming a significant public health and public safety concern. 

These informative classes seek to educate parents and teens about the dangers to teens and trends we are seeing in our community and in the nation. Please RSVP to these free classes through the Safe Kids website at www.safekidsamerica.org, or by calling Deputy Chad Williams directly, at 970-986-1187, for more information.

For breaking emergency information in #MesaCounty, be sure to follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat.


Scam Continues To Target Elderly

Elderly Woman Scammed Out Of More Than $16,000 

Mesa County, Colo.-- On November 6, 2013, at about 1:15 p.m., our agency Service Tech was dispatched to a residence in our County to meet with a 73-year-old victim. The victim told our Tech that from between October 31, 2013 and November 6, she was victimized through a telephone scam. The caller claimed to be her grandson. She said, the person impersonated her grandson claimed he was in a car wreck and needed money sent to New York, Mexico and Nicaragua for attorney’s fees, insurance adjusters, etc. She reported she used Western Union and Wal-Mart Money Gram twelve times to send a total of $16,224.00. She stated she finally contacted her grandson who told her he had not contacted her during the subject time period.

This is an all to common scam that targets elderly people and plays on their love for their family. Sadly, there is no way for this money to be recovered. You should always verify the validity of the caller before providing any personal information and/or sending money anywhere.

For more information on current circulating scams, visit the FBI's Fraud and Scam website. And for emergency updates in Mesa County, follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat.


Monday, November 11, 2013

Hoax Call To Dispatch Not Funny

Teen Charged In Fake Call To 911

Updated information at 4:42 p.m.-- The juvenile suspect, 16, who was arrested today, was not screened into Youth Detentions (based on their standards). He will be petitioned into court to face charges of false reporting and obstructing a peace officer. The second juvenile suspect, who is 15, was contacted late this afternoon by deputies and will also be petitioned into court to face the same charges.

(Previously Released at 2:24 p.m.)
Mesa County, Colo. -- The original call came into the local Communication Center about 12:30 p.m. today, with a male voice asking for help and then disconnecting. Originally, Grand Junction Police officers were dispatched in an effort to find the location of the cell phone and caller. 

After many attempts at calling the cell phone back, eventually dispatchers spoke with a different male voice who said he was a student at a local high school and other students had taken his phone for a few minutes. The incident transitioned to a Sheriff's Office response, which included a School Resource Officer who ultimately located one of two juvenile male suspects at Long's Park south.

The one juvenile male at the park was detained and then arrested, now being screened by a Department of Youth Corrections employee to determine if he will be booked into that facility. This suspect is currently on probation for previous offenses. He was arrested today on obstruction and false reporting charges, in connection to this incident.

Deputies have identified the second suspect and will continue to try and locate him. The original phone owner is not currently being charged in this hoax incident.

Due to Colorado Open Records Act, juvenile names are not to be released unless their charges are a class 4 felony or greater. The current charges do not meet that requirement, therefor the juveniles will not be identified by our agency.

For all the latest law enforcement news follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat and #MesaCounty.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Arrest Made In Homicide

Christipher Lee Baker, 27, of Grand Junction
Death Ruled Strangulation           

Mesa County, Colo. – Deputies responded to 517 Pauline Street, Clifton, around 9:30 p.m., on Saturday, November 2, 2013. The call into dispatch was for an unresponsive adult male. Clifton Fire Department and patrol deputies responded to the residence.

Through the Mesa County Coroner’s Office, the victim was identified as 30-year-old Matthew Curtis Wilkerson, who lived at the Pauline Street location. The Mesa County Coroner ruled Matthew’s death a homicide, by strangulation.

Today, just after noon, investigators arrested Christipher Lee Baker, 27, of Grand Junction, and charged him with murder in the second degree (class 2 felony) and false reporting to authorities (class 3 misdemeanor). Christipher was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office without incident by investigators. He is currently being processed in the Mesa County Detention Facility, being held with no bond until first appearance with a Judge.

Court documents in this case are sealed and this case remains active. No further information will be released at this time.

For current inmate and bond information, visit our Inmate Inquiry System, on our website. And follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo with #GVCopBeat for local law enforcement information.


Special Note: The correct spelling of Mr. Baker’s birth name is, Christipher Baker. His alias is Christopher Lee Baker.

Registered Sex Offender Arrested For Indecent Exposure

Robert Keith Mollerup, 64, Homeless

Sixteenth Arrest For Indecent Exposure

Mesa County, Colo. -- Today, at 10:40 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the report of a naked man in the desert north of Grand Junction. A woman walking her dogs in the area reported seeing the truck frequently and was concerned the adult male may be experiencing a medical issue.

Rural Area Deputies responded to the location on 25 Road, and made contact with Robert Keith Mollerup, 64, who match the description provided to dispatch (including his vehicle description). Robert was clothed when deputies contacted him.

Robert is currently registered as a convicted sex offender with the Grand Junction Police Department, and was current on his registration requirements. However, upon researching his criminal history, he had 15 prior arrests for indecent exposure spanning three states. Therefor, his arrest for indecent exposure today (being his 16th arrest on that charge) was a class 6 felony charge.

For current information on all registered sex offenders in Mesa County, click here. And be sure to follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat for all the latest breaking law enforcement news in #MesaCounty.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Busted With Meth

Shea Becker, 26, of Gunnison

Separate Meth Arrests Overnight

Mesa County, Colo. -- The MCSO Street Crimes Unit located a vehicle making several traffic infractions while going eastbound on North Avenue, yesterday about 5 p.m. Ultimately, the vehicle was stopped by Street Crimes deputies in the 2800 block of North Avenue, where the only occupant of the car was identified as Shea Becker, 26, of Gunnison.
Eric Lynn, 22, of Collbran
Shea was arrested and charged with various traffic infractions, in addition to the 2.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia he possessed. 

During a separate incident with patrol deputies during the 9 o'clock hour of yesterday morning, Eric Lynn was found sleeping in his car at a convenience store located on the corner of 29.5 and Patterson Roads. Deputies could see drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle and woke Eric up, as he was sleeping in the front seat. Deputies arrested Eric on methamphetamine, paraphernalia and various court and bail bond violation charges. He was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility without incident.

Bond information can be found through our Inmate Inquiry System, on our agency website. For all emergency related updates in Mesa County, follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Collecting Canned Food For Vets

Collecting Canned Food & Non-Perishables For 

Local Veterans


Mesa County, Colo. -- The Sheriff's Office is doing a canned food drive supporting local Veterans! Throughout the month of November, bring canned foods and non-perishable foods to either MCSO location: 

  • Long's Park substation (north end off Patterson Rd.) on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
  • Main office at 215 Rice Street, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

We will deliver all the food we collect the first week of December to the local Vet Center. Thanks in advance for your support and sharing this message!

Medical Call Turns Into Meth Arrest

Paramedics Called To Home, Women Has Meth & Warrant

Amber Guerrero, 30, of Grand Junction
Mesa County, Colo. -- Around 5 a.m., on November 5, the paramedics were called to a home in the 500 block of Fruitvale Court, Grand Junction, for a report of an adult male experiencing a medical issue. Deputies responded to the home in a support role for the paramedics.

At the home, deputies contacted Amber Guerrero, 30, of Grand Junction, at the residence and were notified she had an outstanding warrant out of Delta County. Deputies found suspected methamphetamine in Amber's possession at the residence. She was transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility and during the pat down for entry into the jail, deputies located additional suspected methamphetamine in her pants pocket.

For information on others booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility, visit our website. You can also find breaking emergency news and tips by following our Twitter account @SheriffMesaColo and #GVCopBeat.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Movember...Stash House

MCSO Has Movember Team, 

Stash House

Mesa County, Colo. -- The men's movement to show support for prostate and testicular cancer, and overall men's mental health is called Movember. It's also an International non-profit raising money and awareness, in a very masculine manner.

Derek speaking with Daily Sentinel about first shave in 17 years
Capt. Hendricks getting his Nov 1st shave done
Prostate cancer has a direct connection in a couple of ways to our agency. In a serious manner, many around the Sheriff's Office want to show support. Joining the MCSO Movember Team is the perfect way to do that.
Group Before Pic (notice photo bombers)
Group Before Pic (notice photo bombers)
Daily Sentinel taking a group photo
The not so serious part of this, is the razzing, kidding and fun poking that has already begun between team members. All this over who can grow the best and worst mustache in 30 days. Or, the two employees who have never gone without their mustache, until today. November 1st, the rules say, you must start clean shaven and then grow your mustache all month. Those who've had their stache for 20 to 30 years find today to be the hardest for them. The others, who are worried about growing a mustache, well they are dreading the end of the month.

Currently, our Stash House team is growing with nearly 40 participants, including Sheriff Stan Hilkey. And, the ladies can join the team to show their support too. They are affectionately called Mo Sistas.
Group Before Pic
To join the craze or create your own team, check out the Movember website. Follow our agency's #Movember progress on Facebook and Twitter.