Glade Park, CO – A 30-year-old Grand Junction man was arrested Monday evening after allegedly fleeing multiple law enforcement agencies and endangering an infant, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say the incident began around 5 p.m. on October 20, 2025, when they responded to assist the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) near Fruita Reservoir Three following reports of a disturbance involving a male suspect.
According to the sheriff’s office, a ranger located the man near a car with an infant inside and an off-leash dog nearby. When the ranger attempted to contain the situation, the dog allegedly attacked her, allowing the man to flee the scene at a high rate of speed.
Authorities say a BLM ranger later found the suspect’s vehicle after it nearly hit him due to erratic driving. Deputies arrived shortly after and located the man walking from a wooded area carrying the infant, who was unharmed and later reunited with the child’s mother.
The suspect, identified as Nathaniel Adam Casper, 30, of Grand Junction, was booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on multiple charges, including child abuse, unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog, reckless driving, and driving under restraint due to alcohol.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office thanked the USFS and BLM for their assistance in safely resolving the case.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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