GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - On August 25, 2026, at approximately 11:20 a.m., deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to an area south of Rainbow Drive for unauthorized campers in the area, after Orchard Mesa area residents complained. Deputies located a motorcycle registered to Nathan Davidson on the local trail system, above the Gunnison River. The trail system is posted and marked ‘no motorized vehicles.’

Deputies made contact with Davidson, 43, homeless, in the area. During the course of the contact, deputies located multiple prescription pills suspected to be Percocet, oxycodone, and lurasidone - not prescribed to Davidson. In addition, deputies located suspected mushrooms, ayahuasca, crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine. 

Davidson has three prior convictions for felony possession of dangerous drugs and is currently on parole. He was arrested and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:

• Controlled substance - possession with 3+ priors, Felony 4
• Unlawful conduct on public property, Petty Offense
• Possession of drug paraphernalia, Petty Offense

Later that day, around 6:30 p.m., deputies responded to Orchard Mesa for a report of an assault. During the course of the investigation, Gene Clark, Jr., 59, of Grand Junction was identified as the suspect. 

Deputies made contact with Clark, and he was arrested without incident on the following charges and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility:

• Assault 2nd degree with intent to cause serious bodily injury by strangulation, Felony 4
• Criminal mischief - $2000 to $5000, Felony 6
• Assault in the 3rd degree, Misdemeanor 1
• Obstruction of telephone or telegraph serve, Misdemeanor 1
• Violation of a protection order, Misdemeanor 1
• Domestic violence, Sentence Enhancer

Clark was previously arrested on domestic violence-related charges in January 2026.

Again on the same day, around 11 p.m., deputies responded to the 2800 block of Morningside Court for a report of a verbal disturbance. During the course of the investigation, deputies identified Jesse Esqueda, 30, of Grand Junction as a suspect in damaging personal property. 

Ultimately, deputies arrested and booked Esqueda into the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:

• 2nd degree criminal tampering, Misdemeanor 2
• Domestic violence, Sentence Enhancer

While deputies were on-scene, the suspect returned to the area, and deputies observed damage to the vehicle being driven by Esqueda. Colorado State Patrol was notified and conducted a separate investigation into Esqueda being suspected of impaired driving and involvement in a hit-and-run incident.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office reminds our community that domestic violence disputes can escalate quickly and impact anyone. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please seek help and report it by calling 911. In addition, reporting a suspected impaired, drunk, drugged, or distracted driver saves lives. Provide detailed information when calling 911 to report impaired drivers.