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| Ramiro Gutierrez, 55, of Calif. |
Colorado State Patrol Find 92 Pounds Of Marijuana In Car, On I-70
Mesa County, Colo. -- Our local law enforcement partners, the Colorado State Patrol, released the following news release and photo of 92 pounds of marijuana they located in a vehicle after a traffic stop on I-70, this last weekend.
A CSP Trooper booked one suspect into the Mesa County Detention Facility on charges related to the marijuana. Ramiro Munez-Gutierrez, 55, of California is the suspect arrested. We estimate the street value of that amount of marijuana at over $225,000.00.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: October 20, 2013 Time: 3:30 p.m.
A large-scale law-enforcement operation in Mesa County over the weekend experienced notable success and underscored the importance of traffic stops as a crucial tool in criminal interdiction.
Between Friday morning and Saturday night, Colorado State Patrol Troopers hosted a multi-jurisdictional operation with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office and the Grand Junction and Fruita police departments. The two-pronged purpose: to interdict criminal activity such as auto theft and drug trafficking and to encourage safe driving behaviors through strict enforcement of traffic laws.
"With our law enforcement partners in Mesa County, Troopers made a focused effort to protect Colorado motorists, while holding accountable those who would endanger them," said Major Matt Packard of the Colorado State Patrol's Criminal Investigations Branch. "We are determined to cease the use of our roadways in the furtherance of criminal activity and unsafe behaviors."
During a 48-hour period, the operation tallied the following accomplishments:
1) Troopers contacted 336 motorists for 393 violations of traffic and criminal laws. 236 motorists were contacted as a result of dangerous or improper driving behavior.
2) Troopers located and arrested the drivers of two stolen vehicles.
3) A Trooper detected and confiscated 92 pounds of high-grade marijuana concealed in a vehicle and packaged for distribution. (See attached photo.)
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| Photo provided by: Colorado State Patrol |
4) Troopers located and arrested four fugitives on Colorado State Patrol warrants for multiple DUI violations, habitual traffic offenses, careless driving causing death, and criminally negligent child abuse.
5) Troopers seized a vehicle with a false compartment designed to transport methamphetamine.
6) Troopers seized a stolen handgun with an altered serial number.
7) Eight people were arrested for drug/alcohol violations.
8) 106 drivers were cited--including a reckless driver traveling more than 110 miles-per-hour and forcing vehicles off the roadway. 290 motorists were educated through verbal and written warnings for less serious violations.
The Colorado State Patrol is extremely grateful to its partners on the western slope for their participation in the operation's success. The operation's success is a reminder that cooperation between law-enforcement agencies continues to benefit Colorado residents and public safety as a whole.
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