YOUR AD HERE »

Traffic stop yields three heroin arrests

Matt Stensland
Tyler M. Trivich
100915_arrests-Tyler_M._Trivich

— During a traffic stop early Thursday morning, Routt County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Boomer smelled drugs, and three heroin arrests were made.

A total of 23.5 grams of suspected heroin was seized, and Tyler M. Trivich, 26, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of heroin.

Julie Y. Eytcheson, 34, was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin. The driver, Katherine M. Schaeffer, 33, was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin, failure to dim headlights and failure to signal. All three listed addresses in Steamboat Springs.



Lt. Doug Scherar said investigators think the heroin was being brought to Steamboat from Denver.

Deputy Bryan Wojtkiewicz stopped the car about 12:30 a.m. on Whistler Road after it failed to dim its headlights.



“While speaking to Schaeffer about where the three were going and coming from, I observed Trivich’s body language changed,” an arrest affidavit states. “He began to look very nervous and stared blankly straight ahead without blinking. He sat straight up and appeared very stiff.”

RCSO Deputy Ed Hendricks then arrived with Boomer, who joined the Sheriff’s Office in April.

Boomer sniffed the vehicle and indicated there were drugs inside, the affidavit states.

Trivich was then searched. Under his jeans in a fabric sunglasses case, five packaged balloons were found, along with a plastic bag containing dark-colored, tar-like substances, the affidavit states.

Inside the car, deputies found foil with burn residue, digital scale other drug paraphernalia, the affidavit states.

The woman denied knowing anything about the heroin.

Schaeffer told deputies “I haven’t used in awhile. I’m trying to get clean,” the affidavit states.

“Something that makes me very uncomfortable is that these drugs were brought to Routt County,” Undersheriff Ray Birch said. “I am grateful that we have such highly dedicated personnel and the resources to stop this extreme risk to public safety.”

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.