At approximately 3:42 a.m. Nov. 9, Garfield County emergency dispatch received a call about suspicious activity at a north Glenwood Springs motel.

According to an affidavit, the reporting party stated that a dark-colored sedan had parked next to a truck in the motel parking lot and a male briefly spoke to the driver from a second-floor room, returned to his room and then made his way back to the vehicle before being startled by something and disappearing from sight.

A Glenwood Springs police officer stated in his affidavit that, from his experience, the motel in question “frequently had drug activity.”

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When the officer arrived on scene, he noticed the sedan exiting the parking lot and subsequently activated his emergency lights and pulled the vehicle over by the entrance to another nearby hotel.

According to the affidavit, the driver of the vehicle said, “he was going to get some gas with his friend.” The passenger also fit the reporting party’s description of the man coming and going from the second-floor room.

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When asked if there were any drugs present in the car, the driver allegedly said he did not know because his friend had been driving the vehicle earlier. He ultimately allowed the officer to search the sedan.

According to the affidavit, “Inside the trunk in plain view was a small black digital scale and a torch lighter,” as well as a “smaller plastic bag containing hypodermic needles and a small plastic baggie with white residue.”

When the officer further searched the interior of the vehicle, a black Ruger LCP .380 handgun was discovered which, according to the affidavit, after running a check on the weapon was confirmed stolen out of Grand Junction.

After placing the driver under arrest and transporting him to the Garfield County Jail, it was later confirmed he was a convicted felon, according to the affidavit.

The 25-year-old male was subsequently charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, theft and possession of weapons by previous offender.

CHASE LEADS TO STOLEN VEHICLE, METH

At about 6:34 a.m. Nov. 9, a Garfield County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over a white Honda Civic traveling 35 miles per hour over the posted speed limit on westbound Interstate 70 near Rifle.

“The white Honda continued westbound, accelerated to 85 miles per hour, moved into the right travel lane without signaling and continued failing to yield,” according to the affidavit in the case.

Additionally, when dispatch ran the vehicle’s license plate, it was listed as stolen.

The Honda continued to flee and at times reached speeds close to 100 mph. According to the affidavit, following the deployment of stop sticks as well as a TVI (Tactical Vehicle Intervention) the white Honda civic came to a stop some 40 miles later, and both the driver and passenger immediately exited the vehicle, and laid on the pavement with their hands on their heads.

[The driver] reportedly said he stole the vehicle from the Denver area the previous night, before stealing the license plates. “[The driver] said he had multiple warrants for his arrest and was trying to get to California to start a new life,” according to the affidavit. Additionally the driver said his passenger had no idea the car was stolen, and had “repeatedly begged him to pull over.”

[The driver] told officers he was addicted to methamphetamine, and estimated he smoked approximately three grams of methamphetamine during the pursuit. [The driver] repeatedly apologized to officers and stated, “I’m my own worst enemy,” according to the affidavit.

The 34-year-old male driver was arrested on 15 charges, including three class-five felonies: vehicular eluding, criminal attempt, vehicular assault and aggravated motor-vehicle theft.

mabennett@postindependent.com