Arrests Made in Arson Investigation #GVCopBeat
On September 2, 2018, at approximately 8:38pm, personnel with the Grand Junction Police Department and the Grand Junction Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at 2458 Industrial Boulevard. During the course of the investigation into the fire, it was discovered that several items of value were missing from one of the two businesses housed in the building. One of the missing items was a credit card which was discovered to have been used numerous times in the hours before and after the fire occurred. Additionally, a company truck was determined to be missing from the same business. Through the work of Grand Junction Fire Investigators, it was determined that evidence from the fire pointed to arson.
In reviewing security footage from some of the businesses at which the stolen credit card was used, officers were able to identify suspects as two former employees of the business where the fire occurred. Additionally, security footage from the burned business was compared to footage obtained of the fraudulent credit card purchases, and the suspects were found to have matching physical descriptions and clothing.
Ultimately, an arrest warrant was obtained for Eric Booker, age 25, for multiple charges, including arson, burglary, and theft.
Also, an arrest warrant was obtained for Christopher Booker, age 42, for multiple charges, including arson, burglary, and theft.
Additionally, Britney Bowker, age 21, was found to be complicit in these criminal actions. An arrest warrant was obtained for her for multiple charges, including arson, burglary, and theft.
On Wednesday, September 19, law enforcement developed information that the suspects may be inside a residence in the 3200 Block of D ½ Road. Officers with the GJPD and deputies with the MCSO responded to the address and ultimately arrested all three suspects without incident.
This is a complex and robust investigation that remains active and ongoing, and additional criminal charges may be revealed throughout the course of the investigation. We commend our detectives for the diligent and detailed work that they’ve poured into this case, and the work that they continue to do.
Kidnap Suspect Arrested, Victim Found Safe #GVCopBeat
On September 13, at approximately 5:20pm, a Grand Junction Police officer was dispatched to a report of a runaway. The reporting party stated that when she arrived home from work that afternoon, she discovered that her 15-year-old son, as well as his belongings, were missing from the hotel at which they had been staying. The reporting party spoke with other occupants of the hotel to ask if they had any information. She discovered that another occupant of the hotel, who she was familiar with, had possibly left the area that day, telling staff he was considering a return to the Front Range, where he had family. An additional witness claimed to have seen the 15-year-old male get into a vehicle, described as a red SUV, with the other male earlier in the day and leave the hotel. The tenant, identified as Samuel Jumps, age 27, was discovered to have a felony warrant out of Arapahoe County for a sex offender registration violation.
Continued attempts to contact the 15-year-old via his cell phone were unsuccessful. The victim was entered into a national database as a missing and endangered person as the investigation continued.
It was determined that Jumps drives a red Mercury Mountaineer, and registration and license plate information was obtained. The registered owner of that vehicle was contacted and stated that he had spoken to Jumps earlier in the day, and that Jumps told him that he was planning to travel to South Carolina.
A detective with the Grand Junction Police Department was able to make contact with Jumps via his cell phone. Jumps denied knowing where the 15-year-old boy was, and stated he was currently driving through the state of Kansas. Through numerous conversations, Jumps continued to deny having any knowledge as to where the boy was, and eventually agreed to drive to the nearest law enforcement agency to let officers search his car.
During this time, another detective was able to reach the victim via his cell phone, and determined that he was in Ellis, Kansas, and was unharmed. The boy was contacted and picked up by local law enforcement. Meanwhile, Jumps was contacted approximately 16 miles east of Ellis, Kansas, at a gas station in Hays, Kansas, by law enforcement who were aware of this investigation and had a description of the vehicle in which Jumps was suspected to be traveling. Jumps was detained and ultimately held on a GJPD warrant for Kidnapping (F4) and False Reporting to Authorities (M3).
We commend our officers and detectives for their diligent work in locating the victim in a matter of hours, so that he could be reunited with his family. We’re grateful for the information shared by witnesses, as well as the cooperation of law enforcement agencies across state lines who assisted in bringing this incident to resolution.
Update on Death Investigation at CMU #GVCopBeat
Today at 7:43am, the Grand Junction Police Department was dispatched to a report of a deceased male in Confluence Hall on the Colorado Mesa University campus. The building was evacuated and locked down while officers and detectives investigated the scene. Classes in the building were cancelled. A deceased adult male, who is not a student at CMU, was found on the third floor of the building.
This investigation is obviously still very active and ongoing. However, initial stages of the investigation indicate that the victim was the only person involved in this incident, and we are not currently seeking any outstanding suspects. We have no reason to believe that there is any ongoing threat to students or faculty on campus. The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will be responsible for releasing cause and manner of death.
There was significant damage to the interior and exterior of the building, which we believe to be related to this incident. We have not discovered any damage to the Eureka Math and Science Center.
We understand the community interest in an event like this and are working closely with the staff at Colorado Mesa University to share timely, accurate information as soon as we are able to do so. As this incident is isolated to Confluence Hall, all operations throughout the rest of campus continue as usual. If anyone has information they feel could be helpful in this investigation, please contact Crime Stoppers via call, text, or online submission. Their website is www.241stop.com.
Crime of the Week #GVCopBeat #MCCrimeStoppers
This week Crime Stoppers of Mesa County needs your help in locating the suspects that were involved in vandalizing a home under construction.
Sometime between 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 4th and 7 a.m. on Sunday, August 5th, unknown suspects spray painted graffiti on a home located in the 3000 block of Red Pear Drive. Vulgar images and language were tagged on all the exterior stucco walls and the moniker “Scum Gang” was tagged on the garage door. The total estimated property damage is over $13,000. Photos of the graffiti can be viewed at http://www.241stop.com.
If you know the identity or whereabouts the suspects 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# 2018-45653
Investigation Continues into Deceased Person Found Near Watson Island #GVCopBeat
Earlier this afternoon, officers and detectives with the Grand Junction Police Department responded to the area of Watson Island in the Colorado River on a report of a deceased person near the water. The person was discovered and reported by a passerby who was in the area. The victim is an adult female and the death is being investigated as suspicious.
This investigation is very active and ongoing. As always, identification of the victim, as well as manner and cause of death, will be released by the Mesa County Coroner’s Office. Additional details on this incident are not expected to be released this weekend.
Anyone who has any information that could aid in the investigation into this incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Mesa County. Thank you.
Shooting at 517 28 1/4 Rd.
On 08-29-18 just before 8:30 pm a known male victim got into an altercation with an unknown male over a civil dispute. During the altercation, the victim received a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was transported to the hospital where the injuries are reported as being not life-threatening. The suspect is at large, and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
Anyone with further information is asked to call dispatch on 970-242-6707 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 970-241-STOP.
Investigation Results in Seven Arrests and 80 Recovered Bikes #GVCopBeat
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, officers with the Grand Junction Police Department responded to the 1400 Block of Houston Avenue after being alerted to a theft in progress. Due to a high number of thefts in the area, officers had deployed a “bait bike,” a common reference for a bike equipped with a GPS tracking device, at this location. The bike was locked to a bike rack, and was valued at approximately $4,000.00.
Officers reviewed surveillance video and were able to observe a white male wearing tan clothing and a neon green backpack approach the bike, cut the lock, and ride away on the bike. There was also a female on a bike who was captured on the video in the same area, as the theft was occurring. Officers recognized both subjects from prior contacts.
As officers were searching the area for the suspects, the female was located in front of the residence at 1830 North 15th Street. Additionally, officers were able to observe in plain view in an open garage at the same residence both a neon green backpack, similar to the one observed in the security camera footage, as well as the seat from the stolen bike.
Based on their investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and located over 80 bike frames, and a large amount of disassembled bike parts. Some of the frames were confirmed to be reported as stolen, but not all of them.
Ultimately, several more subjects were contacted at or near the residence. This investigation resulted in the arrests of seven subjects related to this incident:
Jefferi Orona, 35, arrested for False Info on a Pawn Slip, Theft
Tristan Bales, 32, arrested for Felony Theft, as well as unrelated outstanding warrants
Brenda Goff, 27, arrested for Theft and Complicity
Raymond Ayers, 46, arrested for Theft and Complicity
Hayley Kuntz, 22, arrested for Theft and Complicity
Sydney Abeyta, 26, arrested for unrelated warrants
James Farnsworth, 32, arrested for Providing False Info to Law Enforcement
Additional charges and/or arrests may develop as the investigation unfolds.
We encourage anyone who may have had a bicycle stolen in the last two years and didn’t report it, to do so now. Those reports can be made online by clicking here. Investigation into this incident is active and ongoing, and detectives are working to connect these bikes with owners who may have been victims of theft.
We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Grand Junction Police Department offers bike registrations for only $1. Registering your bike with our agency greatly increases the probability that, should you be the victim of bike theft, we can return your property to you, if it’s recovered. To register your bike, bring it to the Police Department at 555 Ute Avenue during business hours, and someone will be happy to assist you. If you have questions about the process, please call our Records division at (970)549-5000.
