Friday, December 21, 2018

2018 MCSO Awards



GRAND JUNCTION, Colo – The Mesa County Sheriff's Office was honored to recognize members of the community, deputies and agency staff at its annual awards ceremony last week.

Citizens Max Meneley, Michelle Wilk, and Slater Podgorny were awarded the Distinguished Service Plaque for helping rescued the pilot of a plane that crashed. The Distinguished Service Plaque is awarded to any citizen who, through personal initiative and effort, saves or attempts to save another person who is in danger of death or serious bodily injury. The afternoon of July 31, 2018 Guy Buchanan crashed his single-engine KitFox plane in the Colorado River near the Utah Colorado state line. Three rafters, Max Meneley, Michelle Wilk, and Slater Podgorny, saw Buchanan needed help and acted quickly and selflessly. Recognizing Buchanan was going into shock, they laid him down on the raft, covered him with a blanket and continued talking to him until they were able to reach Lower Valley EMS downriver. Buchanan was air lifted to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and released the following day.

Sgt. Anthony Lee was awarded the Community Service Award. The Community Service Award is awarded to an employee who selflessly demonstrates their commitment to our Community through voluntary service and acts as a positive ambassador of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Lee has volunteered extensively in the community including being a member of the Patriot Guard, volunteering at Hope of the Grand Valley, and organizing the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office first team in the Special Olympics Colorado Plane Pull. In addition to raising over $2,000 for Special Olympics, MCSO’s team for the Plane Pull came in first place.

Deputy Thomas Stuckenschneider was awarded the Medal of Merit. Medal of Merit is awarded to employees who voluntarily place themselves in a position of significant risk to their own safety in order to save another person, or apprehend a violent criminal. October 10, 2017, Deputy Stuckenschneider responded to the area of Broadway and Village Way to discover a car had struck several utility poles and had burst into flames. With active wires hanging down, Deputy Stuckenschneider put himself in harm’s way to make contact with the driver. He then went to extraordinary measures to try to rescue him. Despite is efforts, the driver did not survive.

Life Saving Award is awarded to members of the department who, while employed, performed significant life saving measures on an individual; and that these actions led to the prolonging of life to the extent that the victim was released to the care of medical authorities, even though the victim may expire at a later time.

Deputies Taylor Conrad and Troy Rolbiecki were awarded the Life Saving Award. April 2, 2018, Deputy Conrad and Deputy Rolbiecki responded to a report of a man who was unconscious and not breathing. Both deputies performed lifesaving measures (CPR) on the person believed to be suffering an overdose. The man was resuscitated and began breathing again. EMS ultimately transported him to the hospital for further care.

Deputy Luis Renteria and Deputy Janielle Westermire were also awarded the Life Saving Award. August 29, 2018, Deputies Renteria and Westermire observed an inmate in the Mesa County Detention Facility was choking. Both deputies helped with the Heimlich maneuver until the inmate was able to breathe again.

Unit Citation is awarded to groups for outstanding performance.

Street Crimes Unit was honored for its efforts in tracking down the most dangerous suspects in Mesa County. The Street Crimes Unit has been tasked with surveillance & tracking of drug dealers, gang related crimes, weapon crimes, burglary and attempted murder. Through their diligence & dedication, the Street Crimes Unit has become, not only an asset to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, but to other agencies on the Western Slope. The Unit has taken the initiative to seek out a variety of investigative techniques to track these high-risk suspects. The citizens of Mesa County are safer because of the violent criminals the Street Crimes Unit has assisted with investigating and apprehending.

Crime Reduction Unit was honored for its outstanding work bringing resolution to some of the most chronic and complex problems experienced by the Patrol Division. The Crime Reduction Unit was created in July of 2017 to help find solutions to complex problems in the community. In order to accomplish these difficult tasks, the Crime Reduction Unit developed new relationships with many nontraditional partners, utilized forward thinking policing techniques in the name of community care taking, and did so as opportunity and necessity presented itself. In one year of service, the Crime Reduction Unit has been successful in resolving numerous long term problems.

Patrol Team 1 and Deputy Thomas Stuckenschneider were recognized for their persistence and teamwork that led to the capture of a suspect involved in a shooting. On the evening of July 26, 2018, deputies were dispatched to the area of Lands End Avenue and Cottonwood Lake Drive to a report of a shooting. Dispatch reported a known wanted subject; John Eddy, had just shot at two bail bonds men who attempted to take him into custody. The deputies were able to care for all victims and witnesses as well as locate and arrest the suspect.

Western Colorado Drug Task Force was honored for their hard work, outstanding performance and dedication to fighting the battle against drug trafficking in Mesa County. In 2018, Western Colorado Drug Task Force made 134 felony arrests, seized $1,080,085 in drug money, and took 20 handguns and 14 long guns off the street. The WCDTF has assisted both the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Junction Police Department Investigations units with the apprehension of numerous homicide/attempted homicide suspects, as well as a kidnapping suspect. The WCDTF Investigators have worked countless hours and long days to accomplish their mission and have a significant impact on the overall drug trade in and through Mesa County.

Patrol Team 3 was recognized for its work cleaning up illegal abandoned campsites. Over the summer, deputies on Team 3 spent their day off disposing of garbage and other waste left at several abandoned transient camps in the areas of Front Street and 32 to 32 1/2 Road, I70 Frontage Road and Lois, and 31 Road near Walnut Place. Rocky Mountain Sanitation also donated a truck for the day. This patrol team’s actions not only accomplished the Mesa County Sheriff's Office vision by making the community a safer place to live, work, and play, but also created public trust with their efforts.


Excellence Award is awarded to employees who, through their own efforts, have developed and initiated a means of significantly increasing the agency’s administrative or operational efficiency or effectiveness; or who have developed a problem-solving approach to the delivery of law enforcement services with an attention to those factors that contribute to deteriorating conditions in neighborhoods and community decay or to those issues which give rise to crime in the community. This year recipients are:
  • Deputy Nick Bouton (Patrol) 
  • Beth Boydstun (Records) 
  • Leanne Camp (Sex Offender Registry) 
  • Deputy Brian Eldridge (Patrol) 
  • Deputy Chris Kiefer (Detentions) 
  • Sgt. Mark Johnson (Law Operations) 
  • April Medrano (Detentions, Quartermaster) 
  • Investigator Lissah Norcross (Support Services) 
  • Sgt. Connie Olson (Professional Standards) 
  • Sgt. Wayne Weyler (Crime Reduction Unit) 
  • Staci Writer (Professional Standards)

Monday, December 17, 2018

Deputies involved in December officer involved shooting identified

Deputy Thomas Stuckenschneider
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is identifying the deputy involved in the officer involved shooting that occurred the evening of December 11, 2018. The deputy involved in the shooting is Deputy Thomas Stuckenschneider.

Deputy Stuckenschneider is a 7-year veteran of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, a patrol deputy for the Street Crimes Unit, a member of the SWAT team, and is a firearms instructor.

As per standard protocol for these type of incidents, Deputy Stuckenschneider remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation that takes place independently of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) investigation.

Sgt. Travis Christensen
Sgt. Travis Christensen is the deputy who sustained injuries during the incident. He was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation and was released a short time later. Sgt. Christensen is a 13-year veteran of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. He is the sergeant for the Street Crimes Unit, a member of the SWAT Team, a firearms instructor and a member of the Peer Support Team.

The officer involved shooting remains under investigation by the Critical Incident Response Team. For the latest information about the CIRT investigation click here.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Update: A fifth person arrested in the Kyle Free homicide investigation

Nathan A. Ryan, 30
Mills County Photo
MESA COUNTY, Colo – A fifth person was taken into custody yesterday evening after a warrant was obtained for his arrest by Mesa County Sheriff’s Investigators.

Nathan A. Ryan, 30, of Grand Junction was arrested in Iowa on the following charges:
  • Accessory to the Crime of Murder in the First Degree (Class 4 Felony) 
  • Tampering with Evidence (Class 6 Felony) 
  • Abuse of a Corpse (Class 2 Misdemeanor) 

Ryan is being held at the Mills County Jail on a No Bond hold.

All documents related to this case remain sealed by the court. This is still an ongoing active investigation.

For previous press releases about this case click here.

Monday, December 10, 2018

#Update: Two more arrests made in the Kyle Free homicide investigation

John C. Eddy, 25
MCSO Photo 11-18-18
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s Investigators obtained two more arrest warrants today related to the Kyle Free homicide investigation.

John C. Eddy, 25, of Clifton is facing the following charges:
  • Murder in the First Degree (Class 1 Felony) 
  • Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree (Class 1 Felony) 
David S. Castro, 32, of Clifton is facing the following charges:
  • Murder in the First Degree (Class 1 Felony) 
  • Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First Degree (Class 1 Felony) 
David S. Castro, 32
MCSO Photo 4-22-18

Both Eddy and Castro are being housed in the Mesa County Detention Facility on a No Bond Hold.

All documents related to this case remain sealed by the court. This is still an ongoing active investigation.

For previous press releases about this case click here.

Friday, December 7, 2018

#Update: Human remains found in Free homicide case

MESA COUNTY, Colo - On December 5th, 2018 Mesa County Sheriff’s Investigators recovered human remains that have been positively identified by the Mesa County Coroner's Office as Kyle Free, age 32, of Clifton. Free's remains were found in a remote area in the Northeastern part of Mesa County.

The Mesa County Coroner’s Office has completed its examination of Free. The cause of death is gunshot wounds of neck and chest and the manner of death is homicide.

All records remain sealed by the courts. The investigation remains on-going.

To view previous press releases about this case click here. 

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Update: MCSO investigates shooting at Redlands home

Update 12/6/18

Today, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office is conducting an autopsy on the 40-year-old male who was shot yesterday. The Coroner’s office is responsible for releasing the identity of the deceased once all of the appropriate next-of-kin notifications are made.

Two people contacted during the course of the investigation were arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants.

Investigators are still reviewing evidence and witness statements to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Everyone involved in this incident is accounted for, there are no outstanding suspects.

The case is still under investigation.
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Previous: 12/5/18

MESA COUNTY, Colo – At 2:41 Wednesday afternoon, Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shooting at a residence at 2108 Saguaro Drive. 

One male is deceased. Witnesses are being interviewed and evidence is being collected to determined what occurred. 

At this time investigators believe everyone involved in this incident is accounted for and are cooperating with investigation.

This case is under investigation.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Update: Second arrest made in Free murder investigation

MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s Office investigators have made a second arrest in connection with the homicide of 32-year-old Kyle Free.

At 12:41 Wednesday afternoon investigators arrested Timothy Zane Russman, 28, of Clifton at 207 Plateau Drive in the town of Collbran.

Russman was arrested on the following charges.
  • Accessory to the Crime of Murder in the First Degree (Class 4 Felony) 
  • Tampering with Evidence (Class 6 Felony)
  • Abuse of a Corpse (Class 2 Misdemeanor) 
All documents are sealed by the court. The case is still under investigation. No further information will be released at this time.

Russman is currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility on a No Bond Hold. A booking photo was not immediately available. 

Click here to view the previous press releases.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Do you recognize these people?



Do you know who these people are?
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help to identify suspects believed to have used stolen credit cards at local businesses.

The credit cards were stolen out of a vehicle parked at the Devils Canyon Trailhead on November 30th, while the owner was hiking. The credit cards were then used at both the North Ave Walmart and Target between 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm on November 30th.

Surveillance video from Walmart captured two people, a male and a female, using the stolen card to make several purchases. Surveillance video from Target captured a male wearing a Broncos hat using the stolen cards as well.

Total charges made on the stolen credit cards are estimated to be more than $3,500.

If you recognize these suspects or have information about this case, please contact the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 242-6707 or send your tips to Mesa County 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.

MCSO case #18-39968

To download the video visit https://youtu.be/Wr5VW0l7sZI