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Wandering man with gun charged after drug episode

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MCSO deputies Johnson Lee and Roxanne Slim were dispatched to 1267B Highway 122 March 9 over reports of a man who had fired a gun. The report to officers advised that the suspect was yelling and driving in his CMV truck, and it was unclear whether or not he was under the influence of drugs.

As the two were on their way to the scene, they were informed that the suspect had left the scene and was driving east on Highway 122. Lee and Slim attempted to locate the vehicle but were unable to.

Fortunately for officers, the reporting caller found the suspect’s driver’s license, and asked they meet him at their home. The witness told officers he had heard two shots go off and then saw a man in his shed, who was carrying a bucket and a hose. The man was asking where his kid was, according to the police report. The witness said he didn’t know and the man then drove off.

The driver’s license identified the man as Melvin McFadden of California. Police collected his information and asked that the witness call back if he return. Officers then received a call from a man on Old Landfill Road, who claimed he saw someone on his own property asking about a son.

Assuming the two calls were related, officers headed towards the scene, and upon arrival spotted a man matching the first caller’s description, carrying a black handgun. Officers ordered the man to move and searched him for other weapons, but found none.

The man told officers he was looking for his son and wife. He also told officers that his wife was from California and his son was from Florida, and that he himself was from South Dakota. When asked why his son might be on Navajo land, he said it was because of text messages he received. When he showed the texts to officers, they appeared not to make sense, and had all been sent by him in incomplete words, according to the police report.

McFadden “appeared to be very worried and not in his right mind,” according to the police report. He told officers the radio was telling him where to go.

Officers placed McFadden in the back of their patrol car, and attempted to get information on his mental status from his wife. In the meantime, Lee contacted Sgt. Bennett to advise him of the situation. Lee took the man to the hospital, where he was kept under watch.

A behavioral health employee spoke with McFadden but suggested against submitting him to a psychiatric ward, because he did not have a history of mental health issues, and that his erratic behavior was due to narcotics in his system, and lack of sleep. McFadden was not able to explain to officers when or where he took the drugs affecting his behavior.

MCSO Dep. Tsethlikai transported McFadden from the hospital. McFadden told him: “I remember you from somewhere,” according to the police report, and asked if he was taking him to jail. Tsethlikai informed him he was being taken to a detox shelter. When McFadden arrived at the shelter, he told Tsethlikai: “Thank you.”

McFadden was later booked with a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

By Abigail Rowe

Sun Editor