Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Two arrested on drug distribution charges

Kathryn Kohlenberg, 40
MCSO Photo 11-20-19
Richard Gallegos, 42
MCSO Photo 11-20-19
MESA COUNTY, Colo - Two people were arrested Tuesday evening in an ongoing investigating into the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in Mesa County.

Deputies with Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes and Crime Reduction Unit, worked in partnership with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), US Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Deputies observed multiple short-term traffic consistent with the distribution of controlled substances at a residence on the 400 block of Fox Run Street.

Kathryn Kohlenberg, 40, of Grand Junction was arrested for an active unrelated warrant. Kohlenberg was found in possession of a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine.

Richard Gallegos, 42, of Grand Junction was arrested and was found in possession of a black tar substance consistent with heroin and a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence on Fox Run Street. During the search, 2.5 pounds of a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine was found and 3 firearms were recovered, two of which were defaced.

Kohlenberg is facing the following charges:
  • Distribution/ Manufacture/Possession with Intent to Distribute > than 225g of Schedule I/II or > 112g of meth, heroin, ketamine, cathinone or > 50mg of Flunitrazipam, (DF1)
  • 2 counts of Possession of Schedule I/II (DF4)
  • 3 counts of Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders (F6)
  • 2 counts of Possession of a Defaced Firearm (M1)
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (DPO)
  • Special Circumstances defendant or confederate possessed a firearm (DF1)
  • Fugitive Other Jurisdiction Warrant (Colorado Department of Corrections)

Gallegos is facing the following charges:
  • Distribution/ Manufacture/Possession with Intent to Distribute > than 225g of Schedule I/II or > 112g of meth, heroin, ketamine, cathinone or > 50mg of Flunitrazipam, (DF1)
  • Special Circumstances defendant or confederate possessed a firearm (DF1)
  • 3 counts of Possession of Schedule I/II (DF4)
  • 3 counts of Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders (F6)
  • 2 counts of Possession of a Defaced Firearm (M1)
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (DPO)

This remains an ongoing investigation.

Gallegos and Kohlenberg are currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Male Arrested after Early Morning Pursuit

Theodore Coca, 7/20/94
MESA COUNTY, Colorado- November 16, 2019- Deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office are working with Colorado State Patrol Troopers after a welfare check turned into a traffic pursuit ending in an accident early this morning.
  Deputies were dispatched to a vehicle parked in the middle of D 1/2 Road just west of 32 road. The vehicle was reportedly running and there was an individual sitting in the driver's seat. They attempted to contact the driver, identified as 25 year old Theodore Coca, who awoke and fled from officers in the vehicle. A short pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into a Clifton residence and Coca attempted to flee on foot. Deputies deployed department issued Tasers which assisted in safely detaining him.
  Coca was checked for injuries by medical providers and taken to the Mesa County Jail  to be booked on an open warrant and charges related to this incident.

Friday, November 15, 2019

One person detained after standoff

MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Andrew Arms, 19, of Grand Junction this afternoon following an hours-long standoff at a home on the 900 block of 24 Road.

This morning deputies investigated multiple reports of car break-ins and home burglaries in the area of 24 Road and I ½ Road. Several items including two guns were reported stolen. Through the course of the investigation deputies identified a person of interest at a nearby residence.

When deputies attempted to contact the subject, he barricaded himself inside the residence and refused to come out. Given guns were stolen, the subject was believed to be armed. Out of an abundance of caution, the joint Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Junction Police Department SWAT Team was called in to assist.

After several hours, Arms gave up and was arrested without further incident. Charges related to this incident and the recent thefts are still under review pending further investigation.

A community notification to shelter in place was sent to 61 residences in the area. It has since been lifted. Appleton Elementary School delayed a bus for about ten minutes to keep students away from the area. Middle and High School buses were not affected.

The case is still under investigation.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Bookcliffs Death Investigation

MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a man found on the Bookcliffs east of Mt. Garfield Wednesday.

People searching for a missing Palisade man located a car that appears to have gone over the cliff in the Coal Canyon area. Due to the remote location, Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputies, Mesa County Search and Rescue volunteers and Centurylink’s helicopter helped recover the body found.

The Mesa County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as Harry Oxford, 47, of Palisade. Oxford was reported missing to the Palisade Police Department on November 8. He was last heard from on the morning of October 31.

The case is still under investigation, however nothing suspicious is suspected at this time.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Arrests made in recent trailhead thefts and burglary

Misty Winston, 38
MCSO Photo 11-9-2019
Jared Balderston, 29
MCSO Photo 11-9-2019
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deputies make two arrests linked to a home burglary and several car break-ins at local trailheads where car windows were broken out and items stolen. Deputies and investigators tracked stolen credit card purchases, used surveillance video, and pawn records to identify the suspects.

Jared Balderston, 29, and Misty Winston, 38, were arrested after a warrant for their arrest was obtained.

Both are facing the following charges:
  • Theft $5,000-$20,000 (F5)
  • 2 counts of 1st Degree Criminal Trespass of Auto (F5)
  • Criminal Mischief $750 or more, less than $1,000 (M1)
  • 1st Degree Burglary (F3)
  • False Information Pawn Slip (F6)
  • Unauthorized Use Of Financial Transaction Device (M2)
  • Possession Of A Weapon By a Previous Offender (F6)
Balderston, and Winston are currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Update: Found safe

Update: Rusty was found safe. Thank you for sharing.


Russell “Rusty” Reader
No longer wearing jacket or hat
seen in this photo
Russell “Rusty” Reader
Missing
MESA COUNTY, Colo - The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to locate 60-year-old Russell “Rusty” Reader of Grand Junction. He was last seen on Saturday at about 12:30 pm in the area of 30 Road and D Road. He was seen on surveillance video going to Kokopelli Liquor (2996 D Rd). Investigators have determined Rusty made it home nearby, but left sometime between 12:30 pm and 7:30pm. He left behind his phone, coat and changed his hat.

Rusty is believed to be wearing blue jeans, a tie dye shirt (seen in the surveillance video photo) and a blue Bronco’s hat. Rusty is a white male, 6’3”, weighs 156 pounds and has green eye and gray hair.

Russell “Rusty” Reader
No longer wearing jacket or hat 
seen in this photo
Rusty is dependent on medications and could possibly be suffering from dementia. Investigators believe he may have wondered off on foot. Rusty is known to frequent fishing spots along the river and at Corn Lake.

If seen, please call 911 or non-emergency dispatch at (970) 242-6707.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Grand Junction man arrested for multiple sex crimes on a child

Gregory Trout, 60
MCSO Photo 11-6-2019

MESA COUNTY, Colo – Gregory Trout, 60 of Grand Junction turned himself into the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Trout is facing the following charges:
  • 7 counts of Sexual Assault on a Child, Pattern of Abuse (F3)
  • One count of Indecent Exposure (M1)
The charges are stemming from alleged incidents with three separate child victims that allegedly occurred between 1988 -2019. Additional victims were identified and interviewed by investigators, however the alleged crimes were beyond the statute of limitations.

Trout was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on a No Bond Hold until first appearance in court. For updated bond amounts visit our website.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Vicious Dog Shot

MESA COUNTY, Colo- Saturday, November 2, 2019, Mesa County Sheriff's Deputies are working with Mesa County Animal Control and the owners of a dog that was shot this afternoon.
 MCSO deputies were dispatched to the 3100 block of West Merganser Lane to a report of a vicious dog that was keeping a citizen from leaving their house. While waiting for Animal Control to arrive, Deputies attempted to locate the owner of the dog. The dog acted aggressively toward deputies when approached so they stayed back until the animal attacked a nearby child.  In order to protect the child and other neighbors, deputies shot the dog. The owners were located shortly thereafter and have opted to have the dog put down noting that the safety of their neighbors is most important.