The Durango Police Department on Thursday arrested a 31-year-old man found with a local 15-year-old girl who reportedly ran away from home last month.
The teen left her mother’s home in Durango and was listed as a runaway Jan. 14, said police Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop. She and the man, identified as Joshua Lest Pirtle of New Mexico, were wanted on nationwide warrants, Dunlop said.
“I don’t have details at this time on the nature of their relationship,” Dunlop said Thursday. “My understanding is that she willingly left her mother’s residence and that she was voluntarily with Mr. Pirtle.”
A member of the teen’s family reported to dispatch that she and Pirtle were walking near Walmart about 11 a.m., Dunlop said. A Colorado State Police officer stopped them, and police officers took them into custody.
Pirtle was arrested on a warrant stemming from a theft allegation in October. Dunlop declined to provide additional information about the teen.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
