MESA COUNTY, CO — The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has released a summary of several patrol arrests made between March 31 and April 1, highlighting incidents involving neighbor disputes, driving under the influence, and domestic violence.
Protection Order Violation and DUI in Clifton
On March 31, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., deputies responded to a verbal disturbance in the 3200 block of E Road in Clifton.
While en route to the incident, deputies witnessed the two suspects of the verbal disturbance driving away from the area in a van and contacted them at a nearby convenience store.
Authorities determined a violation of a protection order had occurred between the two adults, and the driver admitted to being under the influence of marijuana during the interaction.
Ricky Beshear, 41, of Clifton, was arrested and transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility on charges including Violation of a Protection Order (Misdemeanor 2), Driving Under the Influence, and Aggravated Driving with a Revoked License.
Neighbor Dispute Involving Heavy Equipment
Later on March 31, 2026, deputies received a report of a neighbor attempting to modify shared irrigation ditch water in the 900 block of 22 Road in Grand Junction.
After an initial interaction yielded no substantiated criminal behavior, deputies were called back to the scene at approximately 6:00 p.m.
Deputies located 67-year-old John E. Morris operating a skid steer while intoxicated, attempting to fill the shared ditch with dirt.
Morris, of Grand Junction, was arrested and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on charges including Cutting or Breaking Gate/Bank/Flume (Misdemeanor 2), First-Degree Criminal Tampering, Obstructing a Peace Officer, and Driving Under the Influence.
Intoxicated Confrontation in Loma
At approximately 8:00 p.m. on March 31, 2026, deputies were called to the 1300 block of 12 1/2 Road in Loma regarding a confrontational adult male suspected of being intoxicated.
Officers with the Fruita Police Department responded to assist deputies at the remote scene to contact 45-year-old Joseph Wilkinson of Fruita.
Wilkinson was arrested and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on three counts of Prohibited Use of a Weapon, Harassment (Following a Person in Public Place and Obscene Language/Gesture), Driving Under the Influence, and DUI Per Se (BAC .08 or higher).
Utility Workers Menaced in Clifton
On April 1, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m., deputies responded to a felony menacing call in the 3200 block of West White Circle in Clifton.
Utility workers there to replace equipment reported being confronted by an adult male brandishing a shotgun, despite knocking, ringing the video doorbell with their company IDs visible, and verbally announcing their presence before entering the backyard.
The utility workers quickly fled the property and contacted authorities.
Matthew Zortman, 50, was arrested without incident and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on two counts of Felony Menacing with a Real/Simulated Weapon (Class 5 Felony).
Pitchfork Dispute in Grand Junction
Just before 2:00 p.m. on April 1, 2026, deputies were called to a confrontation between neighbors in the 400 block of 30 Road in Grand Junction.
John Thomas, 52, of Grand Junction, was arrested for brandishing a pitchfork at his neighbor during the dispute.
He was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on one charge of Menacing (Class 5 Felony).
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office expressed appreciation for the partnership of fellow law enforcement agencies, such as the Fruita Police Department, in responding to remote locations and working together to keep the community safe.