A single-vehicle crash on Colorado Highway 145 in Cortez led to the arrest of a man on suspicion of unlawful possession and distribution of controlled substances and driving under the influence of drugs.
Officers arrived on the scene of the crash near Tucker Lane just after 6 a.m. on Aug. 4. Dispatch advised that the driver had called in the crash and “was amped up and not making a lot of sense,” according to the incident report written by officer Vance Carver. Witnesses also called dispatch, stating that the driver was “acting strange and aggressive.”
John Wood Jr. was identified as the driver of the 2020 Dodge Ram, which was resting in the center lane after hitting a retaining wall while traveling south in the left lane. Officers observed severe damage to the front end of the vehicle on the right side, and it was “clearly disabled.” All airbags had deployed.
The contents of the vehicle included an ashtray, tin foil with black residue consistent with fentanyl use, a lighter, a marijuana container, Narcan and a BB gun, according to Carver’s report. Wood was observed with sores common for users of illegal substances on his arms and legs.
The driver was unable to provide an active insurance policy upon the officer’s request. He claimed that he swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway.
Carver searched Wood’s person and found only a few $20 bills in his pocket. Carver then searched the fanny pack bag Wood had on him after Wood claimed that it only contained paperwork.
The officer located three baggies of white crystalline substance in the bag, which he suspected to be meth. The bag also contained a baggie of blue pills marked “M/30,” which Carver suspected to be fentanyl. The amounts of both substances were “more than user amount and would constitute a felony,” according to the incident report.
A scale with white residue was also found in the bag. Wood immediately blamed someone else for placing the drugs in the bag, and became “extremely nervous.” Carver stated that he believe the cause of the crash to be a fentanyl overdose, to which Wood replied that he doesn’t use fentanyl and prefers meth. He voluntarily stated that marijuana was the only drug in his system after using it more than two hours previously.
Wood agreed to voluntary roadside maneuvers. Carver determined that he did not complete them satisfactorily compared with a sober person, and Wood was arrested. Carver seized $160 from Wood’s wallet and the cash in his pocket, as well as the two cellphones Wood had.
Officer Jabob Bourdon weighed the suspected methamphetamine at 72.2 grams and the suspected fentanyl pills at 7.1 grams.
“Due to the large amount of suspected drugs, a scale and various monies, it is suspected that (Wood) is distributing controlled substances,” Carver’s report states.
Wood was charged with unlawful distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, unlawful possession of controlled substances greater than four grams, driving under the influence of drugs, failure to present proof of insurance and careless driving.
Wood is scheduled for a return filing of charges in the Montezuma County Combined Courts on Aug. 13 at 9:30 a.m.
