An internal affairs investigation into a group messaging chat used by law enforcement for drug interdiction on Interstate 70 revealed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leaves cars by the side of the highway after they have detained suspects.

The internal investigation, conducted by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, was prompted by a traffic stop by Investigator Alexander Zwinck that led to the detention of 19-year-old Caroline Dias Goncalves, a 19-year-old college student from Utah who was born in Brazil and has no criminal history.

Zwinck has since submitted his resignation from the Sheriff’s Office.

Dias Goncalves was stopped for following a semi trailer too closely, Zwinck told investigators. During the stop, he put a picture of her driver’s license in the chat, dubbed “GJ Hi

See Full Page