Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Crime Stoppers: Crime of the Week


GRAND JUNCTION, Colo - The Grand Junction Police Department needs your help in locating the suspects involved in a burglary. 

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4th, unknown suspects unlawfully entered Pearle Vision located at 611 24 Road by prying open the front glass door. 

Once inside the business, the suspects removed numerous pairs of Ray-Ban, Versace and Coach designer eye glasses and sunglasses, along with a Surface Pro computer. 

The total estimated damage and property loss is over $34,000. 

If you know the identity or whereabouts of the suspects involved in this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 241-7867. Information reported to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest can earn you up to $1,000 cash reward and you will remain completely anonymous. For more information, visit at www.241stop.com

GJPD Case# 2017-62923

Thursday, October 26, 2017

SCAM Alert! Law enforcement will NOT call you about missing jury duty

MESA COUNTY, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff's Office has received several reports of a phone SCAM where the caller is pretending to be a sheriff's deputy and threatening arrest if the intended victim doesn't pay. So far, no one has reported they have lost any money as a result of this SCAM and we would like to keep it that way!

Here's how the SCAM works. The caller identifies himself as an officer or deputy. Some versions of the scam they use fake names, sometimes they use real deputy's names. In this latest version, they are using the name Lt. Sorenson from the Mesa County Sheriff's Office. Sometimes he says he’s from the “Civic” Department which does not exist.

The scammer tells their intended victim they missed a federal jury summons appearance or have missed jury duty and have a warrant for their arrest. To fix this, of course they need to pay money!! That's the first Red Flag. No law enforcement agency will ever call you and threaten to arrest you if you don't pay money. If you have a warrant for your arrest, we won't call you, we will just come and arrest you.

The scammer tells them the money needs to be paid in person to the Sheriff's Office, which sounds legitimate to a person who never has had a been in trouble before.

Here is another Red Flag: The scammer, then conveniences them that the Sheriff's Office only accepts a form a payment that has to be purchased at another location like a grocery store. The scammer gets his victims to buy a prepaid card worth thousands of dollars, then take it the police station. But before they go to the police station or Sheriff's Office, they must call and give them the numbers on the card to make sure they got the right form of payment. Then once they go to the police station or sheriff's office, guess what....the scammer has already taken the money off of the cards and the victim has lost the money.

The Sheriff's Office doesn't take prepaid cards as payment, only scammers do! We accept cash or check.

Why people fall for this type of SCAM
Scammers are getting smart. They are using all of the tools at their disposal to make the story they are telling their victims sound real. They will even get details about their intended victim from Facebook and other social media sites to make it seem like they are who they say they are. But they are lying!

Be careful of what you post online
Have you googled yourself lately? Looked at your public Facebook profile? Scammers have. If there is information there you don't want them to have, like your phone number, where you work, if you are gone on vacation...take it down, or increase your privacy settings.

What to do if you get a call like this
Hang up! If you are unsure if the call is real or a scam, ask what agency or company the person is from and call them yourself! Don't use the phone number they give you, look up the phone number yourself and call. Often scammers will set up fake phone numbers for this vary reason. You won't get into trouble for verifying information.

Please DO NOT fall victim to this scam. Call the Mesa County Sheriff's Office at (970) 244-3500 if you have a question.

Plan safe Trick-or-Treating routes BEFORE Halloween

MESA COUNTY, Colo -- Before you hit the streets to trick-or-treat this Halloween, map out a safe route!

Plan out the most convenient and safe route now, so you and your family can just enjoy the delights and frights of Halloween safely.

Start with an area you are familiar with and create a route. Only go to homes you know, incorporate crosswalks when you need to cross the street and try to avoid major intersections if possible. Also stay in well lit areas on sidewalks and out of the streets.

This is a great time to talk to kids about the importance of looking both ways before you cross the street. Most of us will be trick-or-treating at dust or a night, when it is hard for drivers to spot kids especially ones in dark-colored costumes.

For drivers, be mindful of kids crossing streets and possibly darting out into roadways. Halloween is Tuesday, however trick-or-treating events may be happening in the valley throughout the weekend.

Also, make sure an older child or adult accompanies kids trick-or-treating, check the candy before your kids eat any of it and take a picture of your children in their costume before heading out. In case your kids lose you while out trick-or-treating, it is very helpful for law enforcement to know exactly what your child looks like in their costume. 

The free neighborhood social media network Nextdoor can also help. It's Treat Map tool gives you the inside scoop on who will be giving out candy Halloween night!

Nextdoor users participating in trick-or-treating this year can put a candy corn icon on their house under the neighborhood map section.

When you go to plan your route, you can see exactly who in your neighborhood is handing out candy! To access the Treat Map click on your neighborhood's map and zoom out from your home to see who in your community is participating. Don't forget to mark your own home if your are going to be giving our candy!




Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Do you recognize this person?

CLIFTON, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff's Office needs your help in identifying the suspect who robbed the Clifton Sonic Sunday night.

Deputies responded just before 11:00 p.m. to a report of a robbery that occurred at the restaurant located at 3200 block of I-70 B.

An employee reported a male walked up to the business and demanded cash. The suspect then left in a 4-door passenger car.

The suspect's image was captured on surveillance camera. He is described as a white male, medium build with blue eyes wearing a navy blue hoodie and jeans.

If you have information about the identity of this suspect or this crime call the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 242-6707 or call Crime Stoppers at (970) 241-STOP. Information reported to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest can earn you up to $1,000 cash reward and you will remain completely anonymous.

MCSO Case #17-35714

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Update: Arrest made in vandalism case

Kodi Wright, 21
MCSO Photo 10-16-17
UPDATE: Kodi Wright, 21, was taken into custody after a warrant for issued for his arrest.

Wright is facing charges related to the vandalism that occurred in May at a water tank facility belonging to the Clifton Water District.

Those charges are Criminal Mischief (Class 6 Felony), Theft $750 - $2000 (Class 1 Misdemeanor), and Second Degree Criminal Trespass (Class 3 Misdemeanor).

Wright is being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond information on any inmate currently in our jail facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry System webpage.


The Mesa County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the public for their help in solving this case.


-------------------------------
Previous: 8/2/2017

MESA COUNTY, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect(s) responsible for vandalizing a water tank facility belonging to the Clifton Water District.

Sometime between May 11th and May 19th fencing was damaged and a FAA required obstruction warning light was stolen at the Clifton Water Facility located on the 3100 block of N I-70 Frontage Road. A total of $3,200 in damage was done.

If you have any information about this crime please contact the Mesa County Sheriff's office at (970) 242-6707 or call Crime Stoppers at 241-STOP (7867). Information reported to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest can earn you up to $1,000 cash reward and you will remain completely anonymous. For more information, see us at www.241stop.com.

MCSO Case #17-173311

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Two arrested on drug charges

Junhui Liu, 38
MCSO Photo 10-12-17
Hai Wan, 38
MCSO Photo 10-12-17
MESA COUNTY, Colo - Two people were arrested after the Western Colorado Drug Task Force executed a search warrant overnight at a residence on the 300 block of 29 Road in Grand Junction.

Junhui Liu, 38, and Hai Wan, 38, are facing charges of Distribution/Manufacture/Possession with intent to distribute Marijuana > 50 pounds or > 25 pounds Concentrate (Class 1 Drug Felony) and Cultivation of more than 30 Plants (Class 3 Drug Felony).

This is an ongoing and active investigation. Documents related to this case are under seal by the court.

Liu and Wan were booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond information on any inmate currently in our jail facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry System webpage.

Friday, October 6, 2017

Look for the sticker before you use a credit card at the pump!

Security Seal, if broken
don't use gas pump
MESA COUNTY, Colo – The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of a credit card fraud scheme at the pump after credit card skimmers were recently found at a local gas station.
Security Seal located on
the left of gas pump

A manager at the C & F on the 400 block of 32 Road discovered devices known as a credit card skimmer at two pumps on September 28th. The device is designed to steal customers credit card numbers which then are used to make fraudulent purchases before the card holder is even aware it was compromised.

Sheriff’s investigators say credit card skimmers are becoming a significant issue in Mesa County.

Security Seal, if broken 
don't use gas pump
These devices themselves are not visible from the outside, however all gas stations have a safety feature built in to help spot if a gas pump has been compromised.
Security Seals located on
center of gas pumps

Before you swipe your credit card, look for the Security Seal Sticker. If it is broken DO NOT use that pump and immediately report it to the gas station cashier!!!

Also regularly check your credit card statements for any unusual activity.

If you have information about this crime call Mesa County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 242-6707 or call Crime Stoppers at (970) 241-STOP.  Information reported to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest can earn you up to $1,000 cash reward and you will remain completely anonymous.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Crime Stoppers: Crime of the Week


MESA COUNTY, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office needs your help in locating the suspects that vandalized the bathrooms at the Grand Mesa Shelter at the south end of Longs Park located at 3118 E ½ Road.

Sometime between 7 p.m. on Monday, September 25th and 7 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26th, unknown suspects entered the bathrooms and broke all sinks, urinals, sanitary, soap and toilet paper dispensers and the diaper changing station. Fires were set on a toilet inside the women’s bathroom and on the floor of the men’s bathroom. The total estimated damage is over $8,000.

If you know the identity or whereabouts of the suspects involved in this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 241-7867. Information reported to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest can earn you up to $1,000 cash reward and you will remain completely anonymous. For more information, see us at www.241stop.com.

MCSO Cases# 2017-32630

Monday, October 2, 2017

California woman arrested on felony drug charges

Drugs seized 
MCSO Photo
MESA COUNTY, Colo – A California woman is facing felony drug charges after a Western Colorado Drug Task Force deputy found over 26 pounds of meth and 6 pounds of heroin during a traffic stop Friday.

Julia Cantero, 32, of Cudahy, CA was arrested on 2 counts of Distribution/ manufacture/possession with intent to distribute > than 225g of Schedule I/II or > 112g of meth, heroin, ketamine, cathinone or > 50mg of Flunitrazipam, (Class 1 Dug Felony), and 2 counts of Special Circumstances import > 14g of Schedule I/II or 7g of meth, heroin, ketamine, cathinone, or > 10mg of Flunitrazepam, (Class 1 Drug Felony), and Failed to Drive in a Single Lane (weaving).

Just after 1:30 Friday afternoon a Mesa County Sheriff's Office member of the Western Colorado Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on Cantero’s Nissan Altima on I-70 at the Loma off ramp after noticing it was weaving.
Julia Cantero, 32
MCSO Photo

A State Patrol K9 trained in drug detection alerted to the presence of drugs in a duffel bag located in the trunk of the car.

13 packages of a crystalline substance consistent with meth was found. The total gross weight was 26.6 pounds. Three additional packages were also found containing a substance consistent with heroin. It weighed 6.4 pounds.

The amount of meth and heroin found in Cantero’s car bag is far more than personal use, but is consistent with distribution, according to the deputy's documentations in his arrest report.

Cantero was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond information on any inmate currently in our jail facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry System webpage.

The Western Colorado Drug Task Force is a partnership established in the early 1980’s between the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, the Grand Junction Police Department and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. The Task Force is designed to fight the battles of drugs on the front lines and other crimes that go with dealing and using drugs. Grand Junction Police Chief John Camper and Mesa County Sheriff Matt Lewis agree this Task Force is effective and nationally competitive in the law enforcement field when it comes to knowledge, experience and teamwork. The Drug Task Force provides a refined level of service to the law abiding citizens of Mesa County and across the Western Slope.