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Crime briefs: Fake prescriptions net 4,000 pills

After Chelsea Challis left a Glenwood Springs pharmacy on April 16 with several types of pills, the pharmacist spoke with the doctor, who said she he hadn’t issued the prescriptions.

Further investigation suggested that Challis, 33, a former employee at the doctor’s office, may have stolen a prescription pad for personal use. A database search uncovered a total of 58 potentially fraudulent charges including 3,733 pills of Schedule II narcotics and 480 Schedule III pills.

A warrant was issued for Challis’ arrest on May 1 on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, fraud and deceit in obtaining a controlled substance and criminal impersonation, as well as misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, identity theft, forgery, possession of a forged instrument and theft. She turned herself in on May 25.



SLOWING STOP YIELDS SPEED

When Glenwood Police got stuck behind a car going well under the posted 45 mph speed limit on Midland Avenue on May 25, they pulled over Joadie Griebel for impeding traffic.



Griebel, 47, of Rifle, turned out to have a suspended license.

A search of the car yielded 54 grams of methamphetamine, half a pound of methylsulfonylmethane, a common cutting agent, and a pouch of small plastic baggies.

Griebel was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, both drug felonies, as well as driving under restraint and impeding traffic.

ID LEFT AT BURGLARY SCENE

Michael Warren made the mistake of leaving behind a key chain with his library card when, documents allege, he broke into a midvalley restaurant the night of May 21.

The keys were found along with a set of blankets the following morning, and police obtained a warrant to scan the card and establish the owner’s identity.

Warren, 19, of Glenwood Springs, later admitted to entering the restaurant through the boiler room while drunk in an effort to find some friends, who did not accompany him, a place to spend the night, police said. He was arrested for felony burglary, felony trespass and misdemeanor tampering.

Rifle man arrested

A restraining order didn’t stop Carlos Alan from threatening the mother of his child on the evening of May 21, authorities say.

She showed police several texts that Alan, 28, of Rifle, sent her, with phrases like “I’ll be there in 10 call the cops please I’m gonna hurt you,” and “Hurry call your bros and the police I’m ready to go to prison.”

He later called from a land line to curse at her and ask if she had any last words. Deputies responded to the Glenwood Springs address and spotted his gold Cadillac in the parking lot with the seat reclined in his signature style. Moments later, Alan, who had three outstanding warrants and a suspended license, appeared and drove off.

He was pulled over and his car was searched, yielding a pipe with marijuana residue, several cans of beer and a bottle of rum, although Alan showed no signs of impairment and blew 0.00 on a blood alcohol test.

He was arrested for intimidating a witness, a felony, as well as obstruction of telephone services, two counts of assault, criminal mischief, menacing, child abuse, failure to appear, open container, failure to provide insurance, expired license plates, violation of a restraining order, driving with a revoked license, and two counts of harassment, all misdemeanors, which will be treated as domestic violence for the purposes of sentencing.

NEARLY 1,000 GRAMS OF METH

Police looking for Brandon Jensen on an outstanding warrant spotted him meeting with Joseph Maier in the parking lot of the West Glenwood Mall on May 25 and pulled the pair over when they drove off together.

A police dog confirmed the presence of drugs in the truck, prompting a search that turned up a digital scale, some small plastic baggies, and two bundles of suspected methamphetamine weighing 983.6 grams.

Jensen, 29, of Glenwood Springs, had $3,700 in cash when he was arrested for failure to appear and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, both felonies.

Maier, 35, of Rifle, was also arrested for felony distribution.

ITEMS TAKEN FROM MOTEL

Several items went missing from a Glenwood Springs motel on May 20, prompting employees to review surveillance footage, which showed a man and woman taking the electronics before returning to one of the rooms.

Police spoke with the woman who rented the room, who identified the woman in the footage as 21-year-old Jessica Pierson and the man as Zane, though she didn’t know his last name.

Pierson was arrested May 22 in Rifle for felony burglary and conspiracy to commit a felony. Zane Rathke, 24, was with her. He was arrested on May 24 on the same charges.

Graffiti and tagging

The New Castle Police Department is looking for information about several incidents of graffiti and tagging that occurred between 11 p.m. Thursday, May 15, and 7 a.m. Friday, May 16.

Several homes, vehicles, schools and businesses were damaged with black spray paint along Main Street and the North Alley from City Market to Elk Creek Elementary School. Also targeted were areas from West Main and Seventh Street, north to Castle Valley Boulevard.

Possibly gang-related tags included “STV” and “DATA.”

To leave an anonymous tip and earn up to $1,000, call 970-945-0101 or visiting http://www.garcocrimestoppers.com.


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