RIFLE, Colo. — Two young adults are behind bars after Rifle police uncovered a dangerous mix of drugs and crime tools during a routine suspicious vehicle call on Railroad Avenue Monday night.
The traffic stop quickly turned into a major seizure that has residents talking and law officers warning about the growing threat of fentanyl on the Western Slope.
What Led Police to the Car on Railroad Avenue
Just after 10:30 p.m. on October 7, officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked along the busy corridor near downtown Rifle.
When police made contact, they discovered the driver, 20-year-old Marisela Guardado of Rifle, had an active warrant for failure to appear tied to a previous drug case.
That warrant gave officers legal grounds to search the vehicle.
What they found inside shocked even seasoned officers.
Drugs and Tools That Point to Bigger Problems
Inside the car police recovered quantities of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine along with burglary tools including pry bars, gloves, and flashlights commonly used in break-ins.
Both fentanyl and meth were field-tested positive, according to Rifle PD sources.
Guardado and her passenger, 19-year-old Jaxson Stubblefield, also of Rifle, were immediately taken into custody without incident.
Both were booked into Garfield County Jail on multiple felony charges.
The Charges Keep Adding Up
Marisela Guardado now faces:
- Possession of a controlled substance (Schedule I/II)
- Possession with intent to distribute
- Possession of burglary tools
- The original failure-to-appear warrant
Jaxson Stubblefield is charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Possession of burglary tools
- Additional counts pending lab results
As of Tuesday afternoon both remained in custody at Garfield County Detention Facility.
Bond information has not yet been released.
Why This Bust Hits Close to Home in Garfield County
Rifle has seen a sharp rise in fentanyl-related calls over the past 18 months.
Colorado Health Department data shows Garfield County recorded 18 opioid-related deaths in 2023, with preliminary 2024 numbers already trending higher.
Many of those deaths involved fentanyl laced into counterfeit pills or mixed with meth, exactly the pattern officers say they are seeing on the streets.
Local advocates say the combination of drugs and burglary tools suggests a troubling trend, people supporting deadly habits through property crime.
One Rifle business owner who asked not to be named told us Tuesday, “We’ve had three break-ins on this block in the last six weeks. Finding out they’re carrying pry bars with fentanyl makes your blood run cold.”
Community Response and Police Message
Rifle Police Chief Debra Funston issued a short statement Tuesday morning:
“We are committed to getting this poison off our streets. Every seizure like this one saves lives. We appreciate the public’s eyes and ears. Keep calling when you see something suspicious.”
The chief also reminded residents that Colorado’s Good Samaritan law protects people who call 911 for an overdose.
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario added that his office is working closely with Rifle PD and the Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT) to target mid-level dealers feeding the Western Slope.
This latest arrest marks the third significant fentanyl seizure in Rifle city limits in the past 45 days.
Residents are urged to secure their vehicles and report suspicious activity immediately.
The case remains under investigation, and additional charges are possible once drug lab results return from CBI.
What do you think needs to happen to stop fentanyl from tearing through small towns like Rifle? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
