Grand Junction, CO - On January 23, 2026, at approximately 2:50 p.m., officers with the Grand Junction Police Department responded to a reported hit-and-run crash near Riverside Parkway and 28 Road.
The reporting party told 911 dispatchers with the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center that a vehicle ran a red light at 29 Road and Riverside Parkway before crashing into a bridge abutment at the corner of Riverside Parkway and 28 Road. The driver, later identified as 32-year-old Simcha Sparks, was seen carrying a juvenile and running south on 28 Road from the crash.
Officers arrived in the area and quickly located Sparks on Perry Drive, east of 28 Road. During the encounter, Sparks left the juvenile in the roadway, climbed a fence, and forcibly entered a nearby residence through a window. Officers safely took custody of the juvenile.
An individual inside the residence was able to exit through the front door, after which Sparks barricaded herself inside the home. Officers received permission to enter the residence and located Sparks in a bedroom, where she was found to be in possession of a handgun.
Simcha Sparks was arrested and transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility, where she was booked on the following charges:
- 2nd Degree Burglary
- Criminal Mischief
- Child Abuse – with Injury
- Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender
- Reckless Endangerment
- DUI
- Hit and Run after Striking Unattended Property
- Failed to Notify Police of an Accident
- Prohibited Use of Weapons
- Resisting Arrest
- Obstructing a Peace Officer
- Reckless Driving
- Driving on a Suspended License
The juvenile sustained minor injuries in the crash and was transported to the hospital for treatment. Child Protective Services responded to assist with the juvenile.
The details of this incident remain under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time. The Grand Junction Police Department believes this to be an isolated incident and there is no ongoing danger to the community.