Utah Man Arrested for Kidnapping, Sex Assault on a Child #GVCopBeat
On Thursday, December 6, at approximately 7:38pm, officers with the Grand Junction Police Department were dispatched to a report of a panic alarm in the area of the 600 Block of 26 Road that had been activated from a cell phone. Dispatchers with the Grand Junction Regional Communications Center were able to track the alarm from the cell phone signal.
Officers responded to the area where the signal was coming from, near Hayes Drive and Miranda Street, and located a passenger car parked in a dark location on the street. The windows of the vehicle had a dark tint on them, and the license plate was also obscured by a dark tinted cover.
Officers shone a spotlight on the vehicle to check for occupants. The front seat was unoccupied, but what appeared to be an adult male could be seen in the back seat. When officers approached the vehicle, the adult male could be seen climbing from the back seat into the front seat of the vehicle. The male attempted to put the keys into the ignition of the vehicle, at which time officers yelled commands for the male to put his hands on the steering wheel. The male complied and was asked to exit the car, which he did.
The adult male was detained, and a juvenile male was located in the backseat of the car. The juvenile male was interviewed by police and stated that he had met a male he believed to be 13 or 14 years of age via a social media app called “Kik.” After communicating for several days, the male messaged the victim and said he was in town and wanted to meet with the victim. They agreed on a location to meet, and when the victim walked to the location, an adult male, identified as the suspect, approached in a vehicle, called the victim by name, and told the victim to get in the car. The victim got in the vehicle, and immediately activated an emergency alarm on his phone. Approximately 13 minutes elapsed from the time the alarm activation call came into dispatch to the time officers located the car.
The suspect, identified as Aaron Scott Smith, age 47, of Utah, has a criminal history showing numerous felony convictions related to sexual crimes against children. Smith was arrested and remanded to the Mesa County Jail on charges of Internet Luring of a Child (F5), First Degree Kidnapping (F2), Enticement of a Child (F4), Sexual Assault on a Child (F4), Unlawful Sexual Contact without Consent (M1), Obstructing a Peace Officer (M2), and Vehicle Plates Not Clearly Visible.
We’re grateful the victim had the presence of mind to utilize the tools he had available to call for help so law enforcement could locate him. We urge parents to talk to their children about the way they use social media, what they’re accessing on the internet, and have important conversations about how to stay safe. It’s imperative that kids have a trusted adult they can talk to and ask questions when exposed to information and applications that can create dangerous situations for them.
GJPD On Scene of Pedestrian Versus Vehicle Crash on I-70 #GVCopBeat
#UPDATE: The pedestrian is deceased. The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will be responsible for releasing the identity of the deceased after appropriate next of kin notifications have been made.
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Shortly after 6:30 this evening, personnel with the Grand Junction Police Department, the Grand Junction Fire Department, the Colorado State Patrol, and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on I-70. Upon arrival, first responders located an adult female who had been struck by a semi truck.
Details are subject to change as the investigation unfolds, but preliminary information suggests the female was walking on the right shoulder of the eastbound lanes of I-70 near the 26 1/2 Road overpass when she was struck. The driver of the semi truck stayed on scene and is cooperative with law enforcement. We are not able to confirm the extent of the injuries to the pedestrian at this time. Additional details will be released as they become available.
Drivers should expect intermittent closures of eastbound I-70 in the area of the incident this evening as the scene is investigated and cleared. Please plan an alternate route if you are out in that direction tonight. If you are driving in the area, please drive slowly, as emergency personnel are on scene.
Crash Results in Fatality #GVCopBeat
Shortly after 6:30pm, the Grand Junction Police Department and the Grand Junction Fire Department responded to a two vehicle crash on the 29 Road overpass over the I-70 Business Loop.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a Jeep SUV, driven by an adult male, may have lost control, possibly due to poor road conditions caused by precipitation and cold temperatures. The Jeep, which was traveling southbound on 29 Road, appears to have crossed the median into the northbound lanes of traffic, where it was struck by a Ford truck, driven by an adult female driver. The driver of the Jeep was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the truck was not injured. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The overpass, including 29 Road from Teller Avenue to D 1/2 Road, is closed in both directions.
As temperatures turn colder and road conditions can quickly deteriorate, we urge drivers to slow down and exercise caution on the roadways.
Update in October Officer Involved Shooting Investigation #GVCopBeat
In the early morning hours of October 18, 2018, a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol contacted a vehicle parked in the parking lot of the Rite Aid drugstore at 30 Road and Patterson. The vehicle was occupied by an adult male and an adult female. The vehicle attempted to flee, and a collision occurred with the trooper’s patrol vehicle. The male exited the vehicle and was detained by the trooper, and the female fled the scene in the car.
Deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle nearby and a short pursuit of the vehicle ended near F ¾ Road and 31 Road. Initial reports indicated that a deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office fired a shot that struck the female suspect in the hand. The female was detained and transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The deputy sustained a minor injury to his hand and was treated and released. After being cleared medically, the suspect, Deziree Fisher, age 40, was arrested and remanded to jail for charges including Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (DF4), Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Substance (DF1), Eluding a Police Officer, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest (M2), Tampering with Physical Evidence (F6), and Driving on a Revoked License.
This incident was investigated by the Critical Incident Response Team, comprised of the following agencies: Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. It is generally activated when a law enforcement agency is involved in a critical incident to ensure a complete and accurate investigation.
The CIRT investigation was completed and turned over to the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy Jones, the deputy involved in the incident, has returned to work. District Attorney Dan Rubinstein has completed his review of the investigation, and his finding can be read here.
We are grateful for the professional and comprehensive collaboration of law enforcement in Mesa County.
Arrests Made in Officer Involved Shooting Incident #GVCopBeat
Two arrests have been made related to this morning’s officer involved shooting incident.
Timothy Pearce, age 29, has been booked into the Mesa County Jail for two warrants, unrelated to this morning’s incident.
Rocky Cannett, age 28, was booked into the Mesa County Jail for charges of Attempted First Degree Assault on Peace Officer (4F), Vehicular Eluding (5F), Tampering with Physical Evidence (6F), Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance (DF4), and Obstruction of a Peace Officer (2M).
The black Mustang has also been located by authorities.
Documents in this case have been sealed by the court.
No other suspects are currently being sought in relation to this incident. See original release below.
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This morning, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a suspicious incident, possibly involving a wanted subject, at 29 ½ Road and Patterson. An involved vehicle was described as an older model black Ford Mustang. The vehicle was later seen by an off-duty MCSO deputy in the area of 29 Road, near the I-70 overpass. This information was aired to on-duty law enforcement personnel. A deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle and attempted contact with the occupants. The driver of the Mustang reportedly almost struck the deputy with the vehicle. The deputy fired his weapon and the vehicle fled the scene and has not been located. The deputy is uninjured.
As with any officer involved shooting, the Critical Incident Response Team, comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation, is responsible for the investigation of this incident. If anyone has information regarding the vehicle or the subjects involved, they are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Mesa County to provide an anonymous tip. Additional details will be released from the Grand Junction Police Department on behalf of CIRT as they become available.
Vehicle Versus Pedestrian Crash Remains Under Investigation #GVCopBeat
On Friday night, shortly after 9:30pm, the Grand Junction Police Department and the Grand Junction Fire Department responded to the intersection of N. 5th Street and Kennedy Avenue on a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash. Upon arrival, first responders located an adult female pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle, driven by an adult female. The pedestrian was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. No further update on her medical status is available at this time.
Initial investigation into the accident indicates that the pedestrian was crossing N. 5th Street from east to west, just south of Kennedy Avenue. The driver of the Jeep SUV was driving northbound on N. 5th Street and struck the pedestrian. The driver of the vehicle is in contact with law enforcement and has been cooperative with the investigation. No arrests have been made at this time, and the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, with details subject to change as the investigation unfolds.
Investigation Involving Early Morning Officer Involved Shooting #GVCopBeat
This morning, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a suspicious incident, possibly involving a wanted subject, at 29 ½ Road and Patterson. An involved vehicle was described as an older model black Ford Mustang. The vehicle was later seen by an off-duty MCSO deputy in the area of 29 Road, near the I-70 overpass. This information was aired to on-duty law enforcement personnel. A deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle and attempted contact with the occupants. The driver of the Mustang reportedly almost struck the deputy with the vehicle. The deputy fired his weapon and the vehicle fled the scene and has not been located. The deputy is uninjured.
As with any officer involved shooting, the Critical Incident Response Team, comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation, is responsible for the investigation of this incident. If anyone has information regarding the vehicle or the subjects involved, they are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Mesa County to provide an anonymous tip. Additional details will be released from the Grand Junction Police Department on behalf of CIRT as they become available.
