CLIFTON, CO - On November 11, 2025, at  2:45 p.m., deputies and investigators with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at a property on the 600 block of 33 Road in Clifton, Colorado, in connection to multiple theft cases. Deputies received and investigated six reports of theft from vehicles between Sunday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 11, 2025, which were concentrated in a two mile radius in Clifton. 

During the investigation, deputies and patrol service technicians were alerted to the use of a victim’s credit cards at a local convenience store. In reviewing video surveillance footage from the store, a suspect was identified as Elaine Walker, 37, of Clifton, Colo. This was just one of many pieces of evidence collected overall.

Through their investigation, deputies identified a home on the 600 block of 33 Road as Walker’s primary residence and secured a search warrant for the property. In the process of serving the search warrant, a second suspect in the theft cases was identified as Mikel Smith, 22, of Grand Junction, Colorado. Both Walker and Smith were placed into custody during the operation. Additionally, the search warrant resulted in the recovery of property reported as stolen from the victims’ vehicles, including a firearm. 

In total, this investigation resolved all six theft from auto cases and, ultimately, concluded with the arrest of four individuals - two theft suspects and two individuals with outstanding warrants.

Walker and Smith were booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:

Elaine Walker, 37, of Clifton, Colo.

• Fraud - Identity Theft - Uses Information to Obtain, Felony 4

• Fraud - Identity Theft - Uses Information to Obtain, Felony 4

• Theft of a Firearm, Felony 6

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• Criminal Attempt, Misdemeanor 2

• Criminal Attempt, Misdemeanor 2

• Theft - $300-$1000 - From Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 2

• Criminal Possession of an Identification Document - Two or More, Felony 6

Mikel Smith, 22, of Grand Junction, Colo.

• Fraud - Identity Theft - Possesses Information without Permission, Felony 5

• Theft of a Firearm, Felony 6

• Theft of a Firearm, Felony 6

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• 1st Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1

• Criminal Attempt, Misdemeanor 2

• Criminal Attempt, Misdemeanor 2

• Theft - $300-$1000 - From Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 2

• Failure to Appear Warrant

• Failure to Appear Warrant

The two individuals booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on outstanding warrants are:

Ashleigh Holloway, 34, of Grand Junction, Colo.

• Warrant, Unauthorized Absence from Community Corrections

Damien Martinez, 43, of Clifton, Colo.

• Failure to Appear Warrant

• Fugitive Other Jurisdiction Warrant

We would like to thank the many local businesses and residents that aided in the process of this investigation. Video surveillance systems on homes and businesses can be vital resources for evidence, and we are grateful when our community selflessly steps forward to help.

There is no further information available at this time.