"On May 26, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., the Park County Sheriff's Office conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Highway 285 near mile marker 228 [Wisp Creek Drive north of Crow Hill]. The objective of this operation was in conjunction with the 'Heat is On!' campaign, conducted by law enforcement statewide to keep drunk drivers off of the roads during the Memorial Day weekend and save lives.

"During the course of this operation, at 11:35 p.m., Deputy Gaffner noticed a black Chevrolet pickup pull up at the checkpoint with what is described in the report as a 'cloud of smoke inside the driver's compartment of the vehicle.' Deputy Gaffner contacted the driver of the vehicle, Dusten Ryan Atwood, at the same time he smelled what he believed to be marijuana.

"Deputy Gaffner asked the driver and passenger if there was marijuana in the vehicle. The passenger, identified as Christopher Petmanson, stated, 'I just finished smoking a joint.' Deputy Gaffner asked both parties if he could search the vehicle; both occupants gave permission

"Deputy Gaffner and Corporal Rod Greeley then found a plastic tub containing several pounds of marijuana. Detective Amy Frank was then contacted and responded to the scene where she interviewed the suspects. Christopher Petmanson admitted that the marijuana was his.

"Detective Frank obtained a search warrant for Petmanson's [local] residence where two more plastic tubs were found with marijuana inside. Sheriff's Deputies located a total of 26 pounds of marijuana during the subsequent search of the vehicle and residence.

"Dusten Atwood was charged with driving under suspension, and driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Christopher Petmanson was charged with possession of more than eight ounces of marijuana. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

"The Sheriff's Office made over 937 checks during the Memorial Day weekend. In addition to the above arrests, one individual was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. One individual was arrested for being a habitual traffic offender. One individual was arrested on a warrant out of Costilla County. Deputies made two arrests for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

"Corporal Greeley reports that the vast majority of the individuals praised the Sheriff's Office for conducting the safety check. Sheriff Wegener was proud of the successful operation, 'We want visitors to come up and camp and enjoy themselves, however, we need to keep things safe and a positive experience for all.'"