Mesa County, CO – A late-night traffic stop in the Grand Junction area led to the arrest of a wanted sex offender facing multiple warrants and new drug charges, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies stopped a vehicle near Garfield Drive and Orchard Avenue around 12:45 a.m. The passenger was identified as Pablo Padilla, 44, of Clifton, who authorities say had multiple active warrants, including a Utah warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.
The stop was conducted by deputies working with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Major Offender Task Force, alongside the Crime Reduction Unit, officials said.
Padilla was taken into custody and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on several charges. According to authorities, those include two fugitive-of-another-jurisdiction warrants, possession of 1–4 grams of fentanyl (Felony 4), and possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance (Misdemeanor 1).
Officials did not release details on the original sex offense conviction tied to the Utah warrant or whether Padilla was the driver or passenger at the time of the stop beyond confirming he was inside the vehicle.
No injuries were reported, and no additional suspects were announced. Authorities say no further information is available at this time.
The case remains under investigation, and all charges are allegations until proven in court.
Residents in the Grand Junction and Clifton areas are encouraged to report suspicious activity and verify registered offender information through official law enforcement databases.
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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