Grand Junction police arrested a 33-year-old man Thursday night after he allegedly spun donuts in a parking lot, slammed into a utility pole, and plunged nearby homes into darkness on Valentine’s Day.
Jonathon Arms now faces DUI, careless driving, and no-proof-of-insurance charges after the crash on the 600 block of Balanced Rock Way.
Crash Happened Just After 10:30 p.m.
Grand Junction Police responded around 10:30 p.m. February 14 to reports of a vehicle striking a pole.
Officers arrived to find a driver had been doing donuts in the parking lot, lost control, and crashed into the pole hard enough to snap it and down power lines.
Xcel Energy sent alerts to customers at 10:41 p.m. warning of the outage. Crews restored power to all affected customers by 11:40 p.m., just over an hour later.
No injuries were reported, and no other vehicles appear to have been involved.
Jonathon Arms Released on Summons
Police identified the driver as Jonathon Arms, 33, of Grand Junction.
He was arrested at the scene and later released on a summons with these charges:
- Driving Under the Influence
- Careless Driving
- No Proof of Insurance
As of Friday morning, Arms has not yet appeared in court. His next court date has not been made public.
Outage Affected Nearby Neighborhoods
The pole that was hit feeds several homes and apartments near Balanced Rock Way and Independent Avenue.
Residents reported losing power right around 10:30 p.m. Some took to social media to ask what happened, while others simply lit candles and waited it out.
One neighbor told KKCO/KJCT, “It was Valentine’s Day, we had plans, then everything just went dark. At least it came back on quick.”
Reckless Driving and DUIs Remain a Problem Locally
Mesa County saw 100 DUI arrests in December 2023 alone, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Many of those happened during the holiday season.
Doing donuts or other stunts in parking lots is a recurring issue police deal with, especially when alcohol is involved.
Grand Junction Police remind drivers that parking lots are not playgrounds. Losing control at high speed can damage property, cut power, and put lives at risk.
Xcel Energy says vehicle-versus-pole crashes are one of the top causes of unplanned outages in Colorado. Even a short outage can be dangerous for people who rely on electricity for medical equipment.
The quick response Thursday night meant no one went without power for long, but police and utility crews say these preventable crashes happen far too often.
Residents who see reckless driving are urged to call Grand Junction Regional Communication Center at (970) 242-6707 or 911 in an emergency.
What do you think about another DUI crash knocking out power on Valentine’s Day? Share your thoughts below.
