A previous offender with more than 60 prior arrests and a woman were arrested Friday after investigators seized nearly 340 grams of methamphetamine, 14 weapons, and nearly $5,000 in cash from their Craig home, according to arrest affidavits.
Dustin Hyatt, 48, and Tanya Vallejos, 46, of Craig, were arrested on September 19. Hyatt has been charged with unlawful distribution of meth, a Class 1 drug felony, as well as 14 counts of previous offender weapon possession, three counts of illegal weapon possession, and one special offender charge, all of which could result in harsher penalties.
Vallejos faces charges of unlawful meth distribution, possession of a controlled substance, three counts of illegal weapon possession, and one special offender charge.
On September 19, officers from the All Crimes Enforcement Team raided Hyatt and Vallejo’s home on West 6th Street in Craig.
The All Crimes Enforcement Team, which includes officers from the Routt and Moffat county sheriff’s offices as well as the Steamboat, Craig, and Hayden police departments, aims to “target the illegal possession and distribution of controlled substances and other crimes associated with these activities,” according to the agreement and memorandum of understanding.
According to the affidavit, when police searched Vallejos’ home, he allegedly told them, “I want my guns back, I’m allowed to have guns.”
Officers discovered 14 weapons during the search, including four firearms, three metallic knuckles, five compound bows, one “homemade double-ended knife” longer than 3.5 inches, and one collapsible baton, according to the report.
The firearms discovered included a.303-caliber rifle, a.38 Special revolver, a semiautomatic.380 handgun, and a.22-caliber revolver.
According to the affidavit, law enforcement discovered a “plastic bowl” containing a “white crystalline substance” which later tested positive for 120.3 grams of meth, as well as a digital scale and empty jeweler’s bags.
Officers discovered three bags of the same white crystalline substance in a clothes hamper labeled “Tanya’s Undergarments,” which later tested positive for 187.34 grams of meth, as well as two vials of the white substance, totaling 31.71 grams of meth, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also states that a plastic container discovered in Vallejos’ pocket tested positive for meth and weighed 0.83 grams. Law enforcement also discovered $4,900 in cash at the residence.
While on the scene, officers called 14th Judicial District Attorney Matt Karzen and “briefed him on the case,” according to the document.
Karzen informed law enforcement that Hyatt was convicted of felony menacing in a 2019 Routt County case, which prohibited him from possessing any weapons.
According to the affidavit, as of September 19, Hyatt had been arrested 61 times in Colorado.
“Some of his felony arrests were for (second-degree) burglary, dangerous drugs, assault/menacing, robbery, illegal use of credit cards, smuggling contraband into prison,” according to the record.
“The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, ACET, and its partner agencies remain committed to enforcing Colorado’s drug laws and encourage residents to report suspected drug activity to their local law enforcement authorities,” according to a news release issued Wednesday by the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office. “The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office continues relentless pursuit of criminal activity in our community.”
Vallejos was released from Moffat County Jail on Monday after posting a $10,000 bond, according to the Moffat County Combined Courts Clerk’s Office.
Hyatt remained in the Moffat County Jail on a $100,000 bond as of Thursday.
