The Montezuma County Jail has more than double its inmate capacity going into Independence Day weekend — leaving officers concerned about space at the jail if the holiday festivities lead to several arrests.

The jail, which was designed to hold 46 people, was holding 99 inmates as of Friday morning, said Lt. Kalvin Boggs of the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office.

"We really don’t know how we will be affected — It’s a holiday weekend and the Fourth of July weekend, which is a real busy time of year for us anyway. We’re hoping that it is a quiet weekend," Boggs said.

However, there have been weekends in the past when the number of arrests has gone into double digits, Boggs said.

Boggs said that over the Fourth of July weekend, the sheriff’s officers will do some cite-and-releases if the jail is full and the situation allows.

"If it is an arrestable offense, however, a summons will suffice, then we will do that," said Boggs. "We have had to do that for about the last two years, in fact, because the jail is so over-crowded."

Boggs said that over the holiday weekend the sheriff’s office will be increasing the saturation of their patrolling officers and will also have DUI checkpoints set up around the county.

"Hopefully this will curb the number of people who want to go out and drink and drive, but there are always going to be those who don’t heed the warning and that could add to the total (number of inmates in the jail)," said Boggs.

Boggs said that DUI suspects will not be cited and released. "We will find room for them —definitely," he said.

Montezuma County Detention Lt. Jim Keen said that the jail does have adequate floor space as well as plenty of mattresses and blankets.

"Most of the inmates prefer sleeping on a mattress on the floor over sleeping on a bunk anyway," said Keen.

Keen said that the jail would probably be releasing three inmates by Friday night.