Busy Weekend for GJPD Results in Armed Robbery, Shots Fired Investigations #GVCopBeat
Officers with the Grand Junction Police Department were dispatched to 553 calls for service throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Here are a few notable investigations stemming from criminal activity that our officers responded to this weekend:
A victim reported that her unlocked vehicle was entered and a handgun stolen in the 1300 Block of N. 24th Street sometime between midnight and 5:00pm on Saturday, July 13. Please remember to remove all valuable items, including weapons, from your vehicle, lock the doors, and never leave your keys in your car.
At approximately 12:45am on Sunday, July 14, officers were dispatched to a report of a fight, possibly involving shots fired, in the area of N. 5th Street and Main Street in downtown Grand Junction. Witnesses stated they saw a group of people fighting in a parking lot in the area, and then heard what they believed to be gunshots. Officers searched the area and located shell casings in a nearby parking lot. Additionally, it was discovered that a business in the 500 Block of Main Street had broken windows and damage to the building consistent with gunshots. No injuries were reported.
Shortly after 1:00am on Sunday, July 14, officers with the Grand Junction Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at Sonic, located at 2523 Highway 6 & 50. The victims reported that a male had come into the businesses and pointed a gun at them, demanding money. The suspect is described as a white male, average height and build, wearing a blue sweatshirt and sweatpants. A still image captured from security footage is included.
Anyone with any information about these crimes is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Mesa County. A tip leading to an arrest could earn you a reward of up to $1,000 cash, all while remaining completely anonymous.
Register Your Neighborhood for National Night Out! #GVCopBeat
Summer has arrived! The sun is shining, people are spending time outside, and registration for National Night Out is open!
National Night Out will take place during the evening hours of Tuesday, August 6th, in neighborhoods across Grand Junction, and registration is currently underway. Registration closes July 30th, so sign up today!
National Night Out is an annual event that helps fight crime in our neighborhoods by building camaraderie and familiarity between neighbors, while also sending a message to criminals that our neighborhoods are willing to fight back against crime. All Grand Junction neighborhoods who register their National Night Out events with the Grand Junction Police Department will be eligible to have an officer stop by and visit them during the event to provide safety information and answer questions.
What does a National Night Out event look like?
That’s completely up to you and your neighbors. In years’ past, we’ve seen neighborhoods organize ice cream socials, host pizza parties, have all of the residents bring their BBQs into their driveways for a cookout, or just meet in someone’s yard for cookies and lemonade. You can find a whole list of possibilities here. The idea is to customize your neighborhood event so it encourages and invites participation from those who live around you.
How do I register my neighborhood?
Simply visit our National Night Out website. Please keep in mind that only neighborhoods within the city limits of Grand Junction can register their National Night Out events with this registration link. Check with your local law enforcement jurisdiction to see if they are participating in NNO events in your area. Not sure if you live in the city limits of Grand Junction? You can check here.
How do I know if someone else in my neighborhood has already registered an event for us?
As people register their neighborhoods, the information will show up on our National Night Out website. There’s a link to see which neighborhoods have registered and who is hosting the event. You can also call our Community Resource Unit at (970)549-5331 for more information.
What kinds of things do neighborhoods do during National Night Out?
Are you thinking of hosting an event for your neighborhood? Get some event ideas here.
Check out some photos from previous year’s events on our Facebook page.
Officers Involved in CIRT Investigation Identified #GVCopBeat
Two Grand Junction Police officers were involved in an officer-involved shooting on Friday, June 14, 2019. Both officers discharged their duty weapons during this incident.
Officer Thomas Nelson is a patrol officer who started with our agency in 2013. Officer Nelson’s collateral assignments include defensive tactics instructor and field training officer.
Officer Chris Wood joined the Grand Junction Police Department in 2018, after serving as a police officer in Tucson, Arizona, for six years, where he also served on their SWAT team. He currently serves as a patrol officer.
As is standard protocol with any officer involved shooting, both officers are currently on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, which takes place separately from the criminal investigation being conducted by the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team. This incident remains under investigation by CIRT. Information previously released regarding this incident can be found here.
Investigation into Fire, Death Continues #GVCopBeat
The Grand Junction Police Department, in partnership with the Grand Junction Fire Department, continues to investigate the fire and death in the 1100 Block of Belford Avenue from earlier today.
Initial investigation indicates that employees at the business arrived this morning and discovered the power out in the building. While investigating the cause of the power outage, they discovered a large amount of smoke that appeared to be coming from the basement. They immediately evacuated the building and called 9-1-1. When the Grand Junction Fire Department arrived on scene, they determined that the fire, which had been contained to the basement, was no longer active. It was at that time that they discovered a deceased adult male in the basement of the building.
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death of the victim in this incident. They are still in the process of their investigation and have not made a positive identification of the victim. Once a positive ID is made, their office will provide that information, following appropriate family notifications.
The building where the fire took place is an active investigation scene, with personnel from both the Fire and Police Departments collecting evidence and processing the scene. The Fire Department will determine the cause and origin of the fire.
No other information is available at this time. As new details emerge, we will share them here.
GJPD and GJFD Investigating Fire, Death in Downtown GJ #GVCopBeat
Shortly before 9:30am, emergency personnel were dispatched to a business in the 1100 Block of Belford Avenue on a report of smoke in the building. The Grand Junction Fire Department responded to investigate and located a deceased person in the basement of the building. The Grand Junction Police Department is on scene investigating, and will work with GJFD on the investigation of this incident, including the cause and origin of the fire. There is no active fire at this time. Belford Avenue is closed between 11th Street and 12th Street. Information regarding the cause and manner of the person’s death, as well as the identity, will come from the Mesa County Coroner’s Office. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Crime of the Week #MCCrimeStoppers #GVCopBeat
Crime Stoppers is requesting information that will lead to the identification of a female suspect that stole a blue JBL portable speaker and Beats headphones from Kohl’s Department Store located at 636 Market Street on Wednesday, June 5th around 12:15 p.m.
The suspect is a white female, approximately 25 to 35 years old, about 5’7” to 5’8” tall, 185 to 205 pounds with black hair. The suspect was last seen leaving in a gold or tan Jeep Cherokee bearing Colorado license plate number CNQ-387.
The estimated property loss is over $295. A surveillance photo of the suspect can
be viewed at http://www.241stop.com.
If you know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect involved in this crime,
please contact 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. For more information, see us at
http://www.241stop.com.
GJPD# 2019-32108
Explosion Investigation Results in Arrest #GVCopBeat
On Sunday, June 2, shortly before 3:00pm, officers with the Grand Junction Police Department were dispatched to a report of an explosion at 1600 North Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located a backpack just outside of a door to the building. In the hallway to the business complex, officers saw what appeared to be damage from a shotgun blast to the ceiling. Officers learned an employee of one of the businesses in the complex had moved the backpack outside after observing smoke coming from one of the pockets after the explosion.
While investigating the incident, officers contacted a male in the area who had obvious injuries to his arm. After obtaining initial medical clearance from EMTs with the Grand Junction Fire Department, the male was detained and transported to the Grand Junction Police Department. The male indicated that when he set his backpack down while inside the business complex, an improvised firearm in the backpack, sometimes referred to as a “zip gun,” unexpectedly discharged, causing the explosion and injuries to his arm.
The Grand Junction Bomb Team, comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department and the Grand Junction Fire Department, responded to the scene to investigate. Two improvised firearms were located in a backpack. The Bomb Squad was able to render the devices safe.
The suspect, identified as Emmett Wells, 36, was transported to the hospital for follow up medical care. Upon release, he will be transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility, where he will be booked on the following charges:
- 18-12-108 Possession of Weapons by Previous Offender (F6)
- 18-12-107.5(1) Illegal Discharge of a Firearm (F5)
- 18-12-106(1)(b) Prohibited Use (M2)
- 18-12-105(1)(b) Unlawfully Carrying a Concealed Weapon (M2)
No booking photo is available at this time.
More than a dozen public safety personnel worked on this incident for several hours. North Avenue was blocked in both directions, and several residents and employees of adjacent businesses in the area were displaced while the situation was made safe. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone affected while we investigated.
