Months of investigation and coordination culminated in a mass execution of arrest and search warrants last week in the Rifle, Colorado area. The Rifle Police Department shares that investigators from the TRIDENT/TAG Join Task Force led an investigation of cocaine distribution in Garfield County, primarily in the Rifle area, and the warrants were executed on October 5th. Officers seized over 1.4 pounds of cocaine, 3 firearms, and over $39,000 dollars in cash.
The following were arrested and charged: 34-year-old Juan Ponce, 42-year-old Jose Arellano, 37 year-old Ismael Perez, 56-year-old Andres Zurita, 47-year-old Alejandro Perez, 28-year-old Francisco Cervantes, 26-year-old Jorge Melendez, 33-year-old Caesar Pineda, and 25-year-old Wilbert Meza. There are additional arrest warrants pending.
Anyone with information that can help with this ongoing investigation are invited to call 970-945-0744. Officers from the following agencies assisted the Task Force during the October 5th operation: Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Rifle Police Department, DEA Glenwood Springs, DEA Grand Junction, DEA Montrose, CBI, Western Colorado Drug Task Force, GRANITE Task Force out of
Eagle County, Southwest Drug Task Force, 7th Judicial Task Force, US Postal Inspector and the assistance of the Garfield County All Hazards Response Team AHRT.
