SATURDAY, AUG. 27
A deputy responded to a scene in reference to a reported theft of 250 gallons of diesel fuel from a tank at a company in Yellow Jacket. An employee advised that the tank had been emptied, after having been filled two days prior. The deputy observed and recorded tire track evidence at the tank, as well as two different shoe and boot impressions associated with the same vehicle. There was also a bag of Jim Beam barbecue flavor sunflower seeds found at the scene, with their location suggesting that they fell from the drivers side of the suspect vehicle. The employee stated that no employees of the company eat sunflower seeds. The bag was logged into evidence for a possible DNA sample.
SUNDAY, AUG. 28
A deputy initiated a stop on a sport utility vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit. The vehicle turned abruptly off of the paved road surface and proceeded on a dirt off-road path when the deputys vehicle caught up. The male driver immediately exited the SUV and was ordered back inside the vehicle twice. The driver and passengers exhibited behavior indicative of being involved in criminal activity. The driver appeared to be very shaky and ignored requests for documents, finally producing what looked to be court documents, and admitted that he was supposed to be driving a car with an interlock on it. The deputy noticed a bag commonly used to hold illegal drugs. When asked why he was shaking so badly, the driver said the deputy had scared him, yelling at him to get back in the vehicle. He was placed into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, driving with a revoked license, driving a vehicle not equipped with an interlock device, and driving without insurance. When the other passengers of the vehicle were contacted, it was found that the female had methamphetamine in her purse; the male called the deputy over and told her to check his pants. When patted down, she found a large canvas pouch in his pants which had $4,425 in cash inside. After the discovery of methamphetamine and the large amount of cash, the decision was made to seal the vehicle and tow it to a secure facility to await a search warrant.
MONDAY, AUG. 29
A deputy was contacted by the records division in response to a suspect who failed to register a change of address as a sex offender. His status had been changed to transient in the records, and he had failed to register a new address. A probation department employee informed the records division that the suspect was temporarily staying at the Sleeping Ute Apartments. The suspect was contacted in writing to report to the sheriffs office that he was staying at that address. The deputy contacted the renter of the unit, who confirmed that the suspect had stayed at his apartment for a couple of weeks. An arrest warrant is being sought for the charge of failure to register as a sex offender.
TUESDAY, AUG. 30
A deputy on patrol observed a vehicle driven by a woman whom he knew from prior contacts did not have a valid drivers license. The vehicle also showed no expiration tags on the license plate. Dispatch advised that the womans driving privileges were revoked for controlled substance violation. The female passenger, who also was known to the deputy from prior contacts, attempted to hide something under the passenger seat. When the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver would not make direct eye contact, and said that she did not have any of the documentation requested. The plates came back as no record. When asked about them, the driver said that she had no idea where they came from but that her fiance put them on the car after she retrieved it from impound two days earlier. When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, she stated she was unaware of anything but would not look directly at the deputy while answering. The driver was handcuffed, and at that time, the passenger exited the vehicle and left the area on foot. A glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine was found under the passenger seat. The vehicle was sealed for evidence with the fictitious license plates left in place.
A deputy was contacted by an employee in reference to a theft from the Cortez Livestock Auction. A man had bid on and won seven horses four mix bays, one bay mare, one chestnut stud, and one white stud for a total price of $595. During that same evening, the suspect had retrieved the horses without paying. The employee was still in possession of the purchase sheets for the horses, and contacted the suspect who said that he would send a check over to cover the purchase price on two different occasions. The employee contacted the suspect several more times when he did not receive a check, and he became increasingly more difficult to reach. The suspect has an address in Utah. The deputy will obtain a copy of the suspects drivers license photo for a photo lineup. If the suspect can be identified from the lineup, a warrant will be sought for his arrest for seven counts of theft of animals.