Sheriff’s Apology: Teen Arrest Lawsuit Looms.

The detention of a 19-year-old woman following a traffic stop in Mesa County, Colorado, has sparked controversy and prompted apologies, lawsuits, and internal reviews within law enforcement agencies. Caroline Dias-Goncalves was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on June 5th after a Mesa County Sheriff’s deputy allegedly shared her personal information with federal immigration officers.

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Sheriff’s Apology and Internal Review

Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell has issued an apology for the incident, acknowledging that his office played a role in the events leading to Dias-Goncalves’s detention. He emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office has established practices to limit its involvement in immigration enforcement. However, an internal administrative review revealed the need for enhanced training and a clearer understanding of legal responsibilities under Colorado Senate Bill 25-276, which aims to protect the data privacy of all Colorado residents, regardless of immigration status.

Rowell stated that the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office should not have been involved in the chain of events that led to the detention and expressed his regret that it occurred. He also indicated that staff members have received in-depth training on the bill and will receive further training on immigration-based legislative changes.

Lawsuit Against Deputy and Investigation

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Deputy Alexander Zwinck, alleging that he illegally assisted federal immigration agents in locating and arresting Dias-Goncalves. The Attorney General’s Office is also investigating whether other law enforcement officers on the regional drug task force where Zwick worked shared information with federal agents.

Disciplinary Actions

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has taken disciplinary action against several deputies involved in the incident:

• Deputy Alexander Zwinck: Placed on three weeks of unpaid administrative leave and reassigned to patrol duty, removed from the Western Colorado Task Force.
• Deputy Erick Olson: Placed on two weeks of unpaid administrative leave and reassigned to patrol duty, removed from the Western Colorado Task Force.
• Sgt. Joe LeMoine: Suspended without pay for two days.
• Lt. David Holdren: Received a letter of reprimand that will be permanently placed in his personnel file.
• Capt. Curtis Brammer: Provided with documented counseling.

Sheriff Seeks Lawsuit Dismissal

Sheriff Rowell has requested that the Attorney General dismiss the lawsuit against Deputy Zwinck, arguing that internal discipline and training should be allowed to take place as law enforcement across Colorado adjusts to Senate Bill 25-276. He provided the Attorney General’s Office with an unredacted download of the group chat where the information sharing occurred, stating that it revealed that Colorado State Patrol troopers also provided personal identifying information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and members of other local law enforcement agencies.

Rowell asserted that the lawsuit sends a “demoralizing message” to law enforcement officers across Colorado, suggesting that the law is being applied selectively for political effect rather than fairly and consistently. He has also called on Homeland Security Investigations to release the Signal chat records in their entirety.

Attorney General’s Response

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office responded to the sheriff’s request by stating that the Attorney General was presented with facts that showed blatant violations of state law. The office emphasized its duty to enforce state laws and protect Coloradans and will continue to do so.

Colorado State Patrol’s Stance

Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew C. Packard stated that his agency will continue to work with federal partners on criminal matters while adhering to Colorado state law on immigration enforcement. He also noted that the incident prompted a reevaluation of CSP’s use of Signal due to the apparent lack of shared purpose among the agencies included in the chat.

Packard clarified that the Patrol’s use of Signal was for operations targeting drug trafficking and organized crime, while other organizations may have had different priorities. As of June 18, 2025, the Patrol ceased sharing information on the chat.

Details of the Traffic Stop

According to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Zwinck stopped Caroline Dias-Goncalves on June 5th for allegedly tailgating a semi-trailer on Interstate 70 near Loma. During the stop, Zwinck asked her to sit inside his vehicle while he completed the paperwork. He also inquired about her destination and origin.

The investigative summary indicated that Zwinck sent a photo of Dias-Goncalves’s driver’s license to Homeland Security Investigators and Drug Enforcement Agency agents in the Signal chat to determine if she was involved in narcotics transportation or other illegal activity.

After receiving information from HSI that Dias-Goncalves was clear of criminal involvement but had overstayed her visa, Zwinck allegedly questioned her about her accent and origin. Upon her departure from the traffic stop, HSI agents informed Zwinck that they were en route to contact her. The deputy allegedly provided the agents with her direction of travel and vehicle description. Dias-Goncalves was subsequently detained by HSI and held at the ICE detention facility in Aurora for 15 days before posting bond.

“Concerning” Messages in the Group Chat

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office investigative summary revealed several “concerning messages” from the group chat, including communications between Mesa County investigators and HSI agents about traffic stops involving individuals who were not U.S. citizens. Examples include:

• A message regarding a subject potentially having immigration issues, with Zwinck inquiring about “max capacity.”
• A traffic stop where Zwinck searched a vehicle with consent, and HSI agents arrived and detained the occupants. Zwinck later asked for his handcuffs back, indicating he had assisted in the detention.

During interviews, Zwinck stated that the media coverage of the teen’s arrest did not cause him concern because he believed he had not engaged in immigration enforcement. He maintained that his actions and working relationship with HSI were acceptable, as he was simply providing information to obtain information.