Tuesday, November 24, 2020

SVP Community Notification - Watson

Sexually Violent Predator Address Change

Daniel Glen Watson, 49
MCSO Photo 6-11-20 
MESA COUNTY, Colo. -- This public notice is intended to make our community aware that a registered sex offender, classified as a sexually violent predator has recently changed addresses within Mesa County. Further details about these offenders can be found on our website. Click here and choose the offender's Community Bulletin

A 'sexually violent predator' is a term used by the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board, which classifies a convicted sex offender with this additional descriptor. 

Daniel Glen Watson, 49, of Grand Junction, has moved to a new address in Mesa County. He previously was homeless in Mesa County. Watson has served his convicted sentence as ordered by a Judge and is currently on probation. Watson registered with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, per compliance with registration laws. 

All community notification bulletins for all current SVPs registered with our agency are on our agency website, to view them, click here. In addition, we highly recommend you watch a 12-minute video that talks about SVPs and all registered sex offenders, resources, and other useful information specific to Mesa County. For current information on all registered sex offenders in Mesa County, visit our website.

If you have information regarding the current criminal activity of this or any other offender, please call 911 for an emergency. If you observe this offender engaging in any high risk or inappropriate behavior, please contact the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, patrol units, by calling 911 or (970) 242-6707. If you have questions or need education handouts, please contact Mesa County Sex Offender Registrar at (970) 244-3206 or her direct supervisor at (970) 244-3973.

Most sex crimes are never reported and most offenders are never detected. The greatest risk of a sex offense is from people you know. The information provided herein (on the embedded community bulletin) is current and accurate as of the date but is subject to change.

The purpose of this notification is to enhance public safety and protection. Vigilantism, or use of this information to harass, threaten or intimidate anyone associated with this notification will not be tolerated. 

This law enforcement agency has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may live (however, we make it public information so citizens can be aware and educate themselves). Unless court restrictions exist, they are constitutionally free to live wherever they choose. Sex offenders have always lived in our community, but they were not required to notify law enforcement of their residence until registration laws were implemented pursuant to the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act. Law enforcement may now share that information with members of the community, and in the case of sexually violent predators, law enforcement must actively notify citizens. This blog posting is only one of the means we are getting this information out to citizens of Mesa County.

Sunday, November 15, 2020

MCSO Investigating a morning robbery


MESA COUNTY, Colo – The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a robbery that occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday, at the Dollar General at 607 Elberta Ave in Palisade. Witnesses tell deputies, a female and two males stole items and when confronted showed a gun. The three were seen getting into a stolen silver Kia sedan with a license plate of ZAO645, and then headed westbound on I-70 at a high rate of speed.

Suspect descriptions are as follows:
  1. A white male, over 6', mid-twenties, possibly has a goatee. Last seen wearing a black sweatshirt with an emblem of three females on the back of the sweatshirt, black pants, and black hat.
  2. A white male, shorter than 6', mid-twenties, and last seen wearing an Adidas white sweatshirt, blue jeans, flat billed hat.
  3.  A white female, mid-twenties, last seen wearing black pants, black shoes, longer white sweater and gray or white beanie hat.
The KIA was recently stolen out of Golden. No one was injured during the incident. This is an active investigation.

If seen, do not approach, and call 911. If anyone has information about this crime or these individuals, you are asked to contact the Mesa County Sheriff's Office tip line at (970) 244-3526 or Mesa County Crime Stoppers at (970) 241-STOP.





One arrested after shooting

Marcus Archuleta, 24, of Grand Junction
MCSO Photo 11-15-20
MESA COUNTY, Colo - A Grand Junction man was arrested following a shooting Saturday. At approximately 7:30 p.m., Mesa County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of Fruitvale Liquors at 505 30 Road. Witnesses reported a person reportedly shot at a white Nissan Altima. 

Investigators located the vehicle, spoke with the owner, and confirmed no one was injured during the shooting. 

Marcus Archuleta, 24, of Grand Junction was arrested and is facing the following charges:
  • Possession of Weapons by Previous Offender (F6)
  • Illegal Discharge of Firearm (F5)
  • Prohibited use of Weapons (M2)
  • Violation of Bail Bond Conditions (F6)
  • 3 counts of Violation of Bail Bond Conditions (M3)
  • 2 counts of Violation of a Protection Order (M1)
  • Obstructing Peace Officer (M2)
Archuleta is currently being held at the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond amounts visit our website. 

*Note a previous version incorrectly identified the model of car. It was a Nissan Altima


Friday, November 13, 2020

Update: COVID-19 affecting the Mesa County Detention Facility

At the request from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Mesa County Public Health and the on-site medical provider, NaphCare facilitated the testing of two housing units after six inmates tested positive for COVID-19.

All inmates in the two affected housing areas were tested regardless of whether the individual exhibited symptoms. As of Friday, November 13, 2020, 61 inmates in the Mesa County Detention Facility have tested positive for COVID-19. Additional test results are pending. Eight employees working in the Mesa County Detention Facility have tested positive for COVID-19. Two staff members working in other divisions of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office have also tested positive.

The on-site medical provider is closely monitoring the health of all inmates and providing care for individual symptoms. Affected inmates are quarantined, and any inmates that may have been exposed remain medically isolated from the rest of the facility per public health recommendations. Each of the six housing units in the Mesa County Detention Facility are physically separated from each other. Additional measures have been put into place to limit movement in the facility and minimize further spread of illness. All inmates are issued Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Staff is screened everyday and required to wear PPE at all times. Infected staff are self-quarantining and not on duty. Employees identified through contact tracing with a possible exposure are self-isolating per public health recommendations.

“While the number of positive cases has grown, this is what we planned and prepared for. We are diligently working in coordination with Mesa County Public Health and our medical provider to provide the best care possible and implement strategies to slow the spread of the virus,” said Sheriff Matt Lewis. “I want families of those in the detention facility to know our mission has not changed. The health and safety of those in our care is our priority.”

The Sheriff’s Office has made and continues to make significant changes to operating procedures to reduce the spread of infection. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Emergency services have not been impacted. 

For more information about operational changes at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, please visit https://sheriff.mesacounty.us/covid19/

To view, previous press releases click here.

Friday, November 6, 2020

COVID-19 affecting the Mesa County Detention Facility

With widespread community transmission and COVID-19 cases increasing at an alarming rate in Mesa County, we know the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and detention facility could not be immune from being impacted.

As of November 6, 2020, 6 inmates and 2 staff working in the Mesa County Detention Facility have tested positive for COVID-19. Affected inmates were immediately quarantined and any inmates that may have been exposed are being medically isolated from the rest of the facility. Additional symptomatic inmates are pending testing. Our on-site medical staff is monitoring everyone's condition and providing care for individual symptoms. Infected staff are self-quarantining and not on duty. Employees identified through contact tracing with a possible exposure are self-isolating per public health recommendations.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office continues to work closely with Mesa County Public Health and our medical provider to reduce the spread of this illness. Sheriff Matt Lewis has requested additional support from Mesa County Public Health to facilitate testing of impacted areas of the Mesa County Detention Facility.

“As we work with our public health professionals, we will continue to implement strategies that put the health and safety of staff, inmates, and the community we serve first,” said Sheriff Matt Lewis. “Incarceration is difficult on families even without a global pandemic. I want to assure families with loved ones in our custody, we are taking this seriously and are working with our on-site medical provider and public health to provide the best care possible.”

During these rapidly evolving and stressful times, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office encourages people to stay in contact with their loved ones in the detention facility. While in-person video visitation remains suspended to prevent possible exposures, off-site video visitation is available as well as phone, email, and mail services. Visit Sheriff.MesaCounty.us for more information on how to utilize these services.

Operational changes

In March, Sheriff Lewis enacted emergency operating plans modifying daily operations and initiated rigorous screening and prevention measures for the Mesa County Detention Facility (MCDF) to minimize the risk of exposure to inmates and employees. These measures are still in place and include:
  • All inmates are screened by on-site medical personnel before entering the detention facility as part of the normal booking process.
  • 24/7 on-site medical staff continuously monitor inmates and staff’s health.
  • Anyone with symptoms or is believed to have been exposed, are medically isolated until they can be evaluated further by medical staff per Mesa County Public Health procedures to include getting tested for COVID-19.
  • Inmates are issued masks and have access to additional cleaning products to disinfect common areas and personal living spaces as needed. The facility is also cleaned regularly to help with prevention.
  • All Mesa County Detention Facility staff are medically screened every day and are required to wear masks, wash hands frequently, and practice social distancing when possible.
  • Access to the detention facility is limited to only essential personnel. All non-essential volunteer programs have been suspended.
  • In-person video visitation has been suspended, off-site video visitation (still available)
  • Arrest standards were modified in partnership with Mesa County criminal justice agencies to reduce the detention facility’s population and allow for more room to medically isolate and quarantine individuals as needed.
These drastic and unprecedented measures implemented early on contributed greatly to how long the detention facility has gone without COVID-19 cases. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to monitor employees and inmates for symptoms and is committed to taking any steps possible to mitigate the risks of contracting the illness.

The threat of further infection will continue to increase over the next several weeks as we work together as a community to stem the tide of infection. We encourage the community to join us in following Mesa County Public Health recommendations to help reduce the spread.

For more information about operational changes at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office visit https://sheriff.mesacounty.us/covid19/.

Update: Arrest made in morning stabbing

MESA COUNTY, Colo – Friday afternoon, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested Jonah Guerette, 40, of Clifton related to an assault that occurred in the morning on the 600 block of 33 Road.

Guerette is facing the following charge:
  • Assault in the First Degree
The 42-year-old victim is recovering in the hospital. The case is still under investigation.

Guerette is currently being held in the Mesa County Detention Facility. For updated bond information visit our website.

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Previous:

MCSO investigating a stabbing

MESA COUNTY, Colo - At approximately 10:30 a.m. the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a stabbing on the 600 block of 33 Road. 

An adult victim was transported via ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital with serious injures. He is expected to survive.

Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Investigators are currently interviewing potential witnesses and processing the scene. It is still very early in the investigation, the circumstances surrounding the assault are still being investigated.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office witness tip line (970) 244-3526.