Friday, May 24, 2019

Mesa County man arrested on multiple counts of sex crimes on a child

Travis Polutnik, 27
MCSO Photo 5-23-19
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies took Travis Polutnik, 27, of Clifton into custody Thursday after a warrant was obtained for his arrest.

Polutnik faces the following charges:
  • 3 counts of Sexual Assault on a child by one in a position of trust (Class 3 Felony)
  • 3 counts of Sexual Assault on a child by one in a position of trust and pattern of abuse (Class 3 Felony)
  • 1 count of Sexual Assault on a child- with force, (Class 3 Felony)
  • 3 counts of Sexual Assault on a child in a pattern of abuse, (Class 3 Felony)
  • 3 counts of Aggravated Incest (Class 3 Felony)
  • Jessica's Law, a sentence enhancer
  • Crime of violence, a sentence enhancer
The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between January 2014 and May 2019 involving a juvenile victim.

This is still an on-going investigation.

Polutnik is currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility on a No Bond Hold. For updated bond amounts visit the Inmate Locator System on our website.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Clifton man arrested on multiple counts of sex crimes on a child

Roman Cruz Lopez, 29
MCSO Photo 5-22-19
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies took Roman Cruz Lopez, 29, of Clifton into custody Tuesday after a warrant was obtained for his arrest.

Lopez faces the following charges:
  • 2 Counts of Sexual Assault on a Child as part of a Pattern of Abuse (Class 3 Felony)
  • 9 Counts of Sexual Assault on a Child by one in a Position of Trust, Pattern of Abuse (Class 3 Felony)
The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between April 2018 and May 2019 involving a juvenile victim.

Lopez is currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond amounts visit the Inmate Locator System on our website.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Update: Arrest made in Tuesday stabbing

Santiago Gabriel Martinez, 40
MCSO Photo 5-15-19
MESA COUNTY, Colo - Mesa County Sheriff's Investigators have made an arrest in connection with Tuesday morning's stabbing that occurred at a residence on the 3600 block of E ¼ Road.

Santiago Gabriel Martinez, age 40, has been arrested for the following charges:
  • 2 counts of Assault in the First Degree (Class 3 Felony)
  • 3 counts of Menacing (Class 5 Felony)
Martinez is currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond amounts visit our Inmate Locator system on our website.

The two adult male victims, ages 28 and 33, remain hospitalized.

This case is still actively under investigation.

For the previous press release on this case, click here. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Two injured in morning assault

MESA COUNTY, Colo – Tuesday, at approximately 7:15 in the morning Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an assault on the 3600 block of E ¼ Road. The Palisade Police department, De Beque Marshal’s Office, and East Orchard Mesa Fire Department also responded.

Two adult males, ages 28 and 33, were transported to St. Mary’s hospital with serious but not believed to be life-threatening injuries.

One person was detained at the scene. There are no outstanding suspects. This is believed to be an isolated incident.

Investigators are currently interviewing witnesses as well as collecting evidence and processing the scene.

This remains an ongoing and active investigation.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is the investigating agency for this incident.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Grand Junction man arrested on sex crimes charges

Mark Koury, 59
MCSO Photo 5-10-19
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Grand Junction man Thursday for sex assault charges after a warrant for his arrest was obtained. 

Mark Koury, 59, of Grand Junction is facing the following charges:
  • 2 Counts of Sexual Assault (Class 4 Felony)
  • 2 Counts of Invasion of Privacy for Sexual Gratification (Class 1 Misdemeanor)
  • Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Class 5 Felony)
  • 2 Counts of Patronizing a prostitute (Class 1 Misdemeanor)
  • Unlawful Sexual Contact (Class 1 Misdemeanor)
These charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between December 2017 and May 2018 involving three adult victims and possession of child pornography.

This is still an on-going investigation.

If you have information about this case or alleged crimes please contact the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 244-3222. You can also call Mesa County 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.

Koury is currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility on a No Bond Hold until his first appearance in court. For updated bond amounts on any inmate currently in our jail, visit our Inmate Locator on our website.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Correctional Officers Week: Honoring our fallen


Deputy Edward Innes
EOW 9/27/1906
MESA COUNTY, Colo - This Correctional Officer’s Week the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office honors and remembers the sacrifice made by Edward Innes, the first law enforcement officer to lay down his life in the line of duty in Mesa County.

On September 26, 1906, Deputy Edward Innes was struck from behind with a piece of wood and became the first Mesa County law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty. Inmate George McGarvey, jailed since April 1, 1906 on charges of attempting to criminally assault a nine–year-old girl, used the attack on Innes to escape the Mesa County Jail. 28-year-old Innes passed away the following day.

First Mesa County Jail
McGarvey was captured by DeBeque rancher William McDowell on September 30 and then tried on October 3. He was convicted on October 4 and sentenced to death by hanging on October 5, 1906. A swift justice for what was described as one of the foulest deeds enacted in Grand Junction.

Edward Innes, a resident of Grand Junction since the age of four, was the only child of William and Lucy Innes. Edward’s father was the first elected Sheriff of the newly formed Mesa County from 1885 to 1886. Edward was Chief of the Grand Junction Fire Department for several years prior to his employment in the Mesa County Jail. When William Innes passed away November 28, 1926, it was noted that Edward was “named to the responsible position of Undersheriff.” No other mention of this title has been found.

Although Edward never married and had no children, descendants of the Innes clan can be found throughout the country, including Harold Daniels of Grand Junction whose mother Josie was Edward’s cousin. Harold and his wife Claudelle attended Edward Innes’ induction into the Colorado Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial on May 5, 2000 at the Colorado State Patrol Academy.

Several years later, the request was made to add Edward Innes to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial. The request was granted on February 13, 2007. The name of Edward Innes was unveiled on May 13, 2007 at the 19th annual candlelight vigil as part of the National Police Week celebration in Washington, D.C.

As referred to by family and friends of Edward in a Daily Sentinel article dating September 28, 1906 – His character was above reproach, his disposition was such that drew to him readily warm friends that never wavered in their regard for him. True hearted, high and noble in his impulses and faithful to his friends there is little wonder that he was popular and there is little wonder the entire city should be stirred with indignation and anger over his tragic death at the hands of the vilest of criminals that was ever confined in a Mesa County prison.

In December of 2017, Innes was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Family members still living in Colorado accepted the award on his behalf.

Following Correctional Officers Week tradition, a wreath first displayed in the Mesa County Sheriff's Office lobby, will be placed on Edward Innes' grave to honor and remember his sacrifice.

Monday, May 6, 2019

Correctional Officers Honored

Correctional Officers' Week May 5-11th

Mesa County Board of Commissioners
proclaim this week Correctional Officers' Week

MESA COUNTY, Colo. — Today the Mesa County Board of Commissioners officially dedicated this week to Correctional Officers of Mesa County.

Sheriff Matt Lewis and Detention Deputy Michael Hand joined the Mesa County Board of Commissioners in recognizing the professionalism and dedication of our detention deputies and staff during National Correctional Officers Week, May 5-11th.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan created National Correctional Officers Week to honor the work of correctional officers and correctional personnel nationwide. In Mesa County, this group of professionals are known as detention deputies.

Sheriff Matt Lewis and
Detention Deputy Michael Hand
Local jails, like the Mesa County Detention Facility, are complex organizations. On a basic level, a jail must provide its inmate population a number of services, including three meals a day, medical and mental health care, clothing and linens, visitation, recreation, religious programs, as well as access to courts and attorneys. Complicating this task is the diversity of needs within the increasing inmate population while maintaining the safety and security of the 24-hour facility. In 2018, the Mesa County Detention Facility processed 6,653 people and provided more than 630,000 meals. On July 23, 2018, the Mesa County Detention Facility housed a record high of 629 inmates.

Deputy Edward Innes
EOW 9/27/1906
“The dedicated men and women who work inside our detention facility, 24/7, 365 days a year, play a vitally important role in keeping our Community safe. Their job is difficult and not one many people want to do,” said Capt. Art Smith. “Today, this week, we need to say Thank You to these professionals for their service to our Community.”

Being a detention officer can be a dangerous job. The names of 713 correctional officers are engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. One of those names is Deputy Edward Innes, who was killed by an inmate escaping the jail in 1906. A wreath first displayed in the Mesa County Sheriff's Office lobby, will be placed on Innes' grave this week to honor and remember his sacrifice.  Learn more about Deputy Edward Innes here

Please join us in thanking all detentions professionals for not only what they do, but more importantly the personal sacrifices they make to ensure our community remains a safe place to live, work and play.