Over the past several weeks, detectives from Partner’s Against Narcotics Trafficking (PANT) developed information regarding the sales of drugs involving 52-year-old Mark Coldiron and his girlfriend, 39-year-old Jennifer Baeta. Both reside in Dewey, Arizona.
During the initial investigation beginning in June, detectives were able to monitor the sale of a quarter pound of marijuana by Coldiron at a gas station parking area near Dewey. Baeta was with Coldiron when the sale took place. During the transaction, Coldiron also mentioned he was able to provide additional marijuana from a local grow along with hash and ‘wax’ (both a concentrated form of THC).
A few weeks later, detectives observed Coldiron sell a quantity of hash in the parking lot of a Prescott Valley Market. This was followed by 2 more sales of hash over recent days in the Prescott Valley area. Of the 4 transactions under observation by PANT detectives, 3 of the transactions were within 1000 feet of a high school. Baeta was present during each completed sale.
As a result of documenting these sales, detectives obtained a search warrant for the home associated with both suspects located in the 1400 block of S Dewey Road, Dewey. The warrant was served on August 18, 2015, and Baeta was taken into custody. Detectives recovered 2 handguns, drug paraphernalia along with usable amounts of marijuana and hash. Coldiron was arrested when he arrived at the home Dewey Road home. A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle. At this time, detectives confirmed Coldiron was running a growing operation in Seligman.
Baeta’s 3 children, ages 17, 13, and 11, along with her parents and Coldiron’s adult son, also live at the Dewey home. The children were released to the custody of DCS following Baeta’s arrest.
A search warrant for 2 Seligman properties in the 27000 block of W. El Oro Drive was served on August 18. Even prior to Coldiron’s arrest and admitted connection to the marijuana grow in Seligman detectives had connected him to this operation. A greenhouse was searched and found to contain 32 marijuana plants under cultivation with many labeled to identify particular strains. Detectives found surveillance cameras monitoring the property.
During follow-up, Coldiron claimed his medical marijuana cultivation operation was legal based on a certificate from the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS). Detectives confirmed Coldiron was not an owner or resident of the Seligman properties and the drug sales documented earlier involving non-card medical marijuana card holders in no way complied with DHS rules. Property records for one of the Seligman properties shows Baeta as an owner. Baeta has no legal standing to cultivate marijuana. She told detectives she was unsure if Coldiron was in fact cultivating recently on the Seligman property. The other property is associated with an out of area resident – a connection, if any, is still under investigation.
Both suspects have since been released on bond pending court. Booking charges included multiple counts of Possession of Marijuana for Sales, Production/Transportation of Marijuana for Sales, Possession/Sales/Manufacturing of a Narcotic Drug, and Possess/Use Drug near Schools, among others.
Investigation ongoing – additional charges are possible.