On May 7, 2025, at 7:20 p.m., Deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a vehicle stolen from the parking lot of a business on the 3100 block of Mesa Avenue in Grand Junction, CO.

Responding Deputies quickly gathered a detailed description of the stolen vehicle from the owner and began canvassing the area. The vehicle was found unoccupied only 16 minutes later near the 3200 block of Sagewood Court. Deputies then obtained an image of the suspect from store security camera footage and began a second canvas.

Deputies located the suspect shortly after 8:00 p.m. in the area of Helton Drive and Holland Street. The suspect was identified as Roberto Monarrez (29) of Clifton, CO. Monarrez was found to be in possession of the keys to the stolen vehicle and other items related to the incident. He was placed into custody and transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:

• Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 1
• First Degree Criminal Trespass with Intent to Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 1
• Theft - Less than $300 - From Motor Vehicle, Petty Offense
• Possession of Schedule I/II Controlled Substances, Drug Misdemeanor 1
• Unlawful Use of a Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor 1
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Drug Petty Offense 
• Drove on a Suspended License

In total, Deputies received the call, located the stolen vehicle, identified the suspect, and took the suspect into custody in under 45 minutes.

Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Thomas Stuckenschneider said, “This case was solved by good old fashion police work. I am extremely proud of my team and their impressive work.”

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents to:

• Always lock your car when it is not in use.
• Do not leave your car keys in the car.
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.