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Two people arrested in connection with drug trafficking | Western Colorado

Two people accused of running a drug trafficking scheme involving fentanyl and methamphetamine in Grand Junction were arrested earlier this week.

Carrie Cook, 55, and Eric Proctor, 41, were arrested Tuesday and charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine with intent to traffic, trafficking drugs within 1,000 feet of a school or public housing, and participating in a conspiracy to traffic drugs, among several other drug-related offenses.

According to arrest affidavits, the Western Colorado Drug Task Force was involved in an investigation that included multiple wiretaps.

The task force and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were conducting surveillance at a known address belonging to Cook and Procter when Procter and Cook appeared to be conducting a drug deal with another person, according to police.

Cook and Procter left the address in a car and were followed to the Orchard Mesa Taco Bell, where another person got into the back seat, exited the vehicle, and then got back into the back seat.

Jacob Best, a Colorado State Patrol officer, contacted Procter & Cook in the Taco Bell parking lot and saw a bag of methamphetamine in the center console, police said.

A search of the vehicle revealed more than 500 suspected fentanyl pills, an ounce of methamphetamine and $800 in cash, according to the affidavit.

The deal took place within 500 feet of Dos Rios Elementary School and Monument Ridge Townhomes, which are public housing projects, according to the affidavit.

Cook appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Michael Fisher asked the court for $100,000 bail for Cook, saying she posed “an extreme threat to our community” by trafficking fentanyl and other substances.

Defense attorney Kiyomi Bollick asked for a high personal bond, saying Cook was aware of the seriousness of the charges and there was not a high risk that he would commit further crimes or fail to appear in court.

Judge Matthew Hardin set cash bail at $100,000, saying the severity of the charges was “too serious to risk personal bail.”

Proctor declined to appear in court on Wednesday.