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Weekly Police Activity Report

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A BITING WINDOW-BREAKER

Gallup, May 20

For unknown reasons, at least according to a police report, Latefa Hicks, 25, of Yah-Ta-Hey, N.M., went on a rampage at the Hacienda Motel, 2510 E. Highway 66.

Gallup Police Officer Alana Bradley responded to the scene shortly before 2 pm and spoke to victim Mario Casias, 46, who was staying in one of the rooms. He told police that as he sat on the bed in his room an object came hurtling through the window, which turned out to be a cinder block. He then witnessed Hicks pick up another block and throw it through the window.

When he opened the door, Hicks charged at him. Despite attempts to force her off from him, she sunk her teeth into his armpit. Bradley could see the bite mark to Casias’s right armpit area, in addition to a scratch on his neck.

Thanks to an observant KFC restaurant manager, Hicks was located and placed under arrest for aggravated assault and battery, and criminal damage to property.

 

WINDOW BASHER

Gallup, May 18

A Keams Canyon man was arrested for bashing in three windows – one window to the room he was staying in at America’s Best Value Inn, 2003 W. Highway 66, and two front vehicle windshields belonging to vehicles in the parking lot of the hotel. In all, the estimated value placed on the windows, bashed in by Vidale James, 23, totaled $695.

James denied that he went on a glass-breaking rampage, but Patrolman Christopher Dawes noticed the swelling on James’s knuckles. James was passed out on the bed, drunk, upon his return to his hotel room from the Shalimar.

James was charged with criminal damage to property.

 

ARSON

Gallup, May 17

A fire on Gallup’s west side, at 3307 W. Highway 66, was purposely set, according to Gallup Fire Department firefighters on scene.

Officer Justin Foster first arrived on scene shortly after noon and noticed the fire coming out of the back of the structure, formerly a gas station.

According to the report, the fire was deliberately set with the perpetrator using a pile of trash as fuel. Detectives took over the scene and the dollar amount of the estimated damage to the structure wasn’t listed in the report.

 

STRANGE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT

Gallup, May 17

A woman attempting to sell a “set of pearls” online found what seemed like the perfect buyer who was willing to make a payment before receiving the merchandise. But when Elizabeth Begay of Gallup received the buyer’s check, things didn’t seem to add up, and that’s when she contacted the Gallup Police Department. Patrolman Brandon Salazar took the report.

The buyer “Fred” claimed to be from New York, but the check for more than $2,000 came from Kansas, yet was signed by a doctor living in California. Begay said there was $50 to cover the delivery of the item, but there wasn’t going to be an actual delivery. The buyer said he would send someone to her home to collect the pearls.

Salazar took the check and envelope into evidence, and there were no suspects at the time the report was filed.

 

ATM FRAUD

Gallup, May 17

Gallup Police were dispatched to 101 W. Hill Ave. to take a report in response to fraudulent use of an ATM card.

According to the police report, Daniel Kruis, 66, of Gallup told Officer Justin Foster that three ATM transactions totaling $460 occurred after his ATM card went missing.

Foster requested video from the ATM machine at US Bank, but was told by a banker that the bank’s investigations department would need to clear the release of the video. At the time the report was filed, police didn’t have any suspects.

 

MYSTERIOUS ASSAULT

Gallup, May 15

A Bloomfield man sustained head injuries under mysterious circumstances in Gallup May 15. When police arrived at the scene, 4501 E. Highway 66, at 12:47 am, they found Bingo Smith, Jr., 32, under a tree and bleeding from the head. He didn’t speak with Gallup Patrolman Adrian Quetawki, and the police report doesn’t specify whether Smith was unconscious at the time.

But, the report does state that Smith may have been struck by a vehicle.

The case was turned over to Gallup Police detectives.

 

FORGER CAUGHT IN BANK

Gallup, May 15

A Gallup man who was expecting the arrival of new checks was notified by his bank, Washington Federal, that several checks were written and cashed between May 9, May 14 and May 19, for $200, $500, and $400, respectively.

One check was signed and cashed by Ashlee Ortiz and two by Moses Alonzo for a combined total of $1,100. According to the police report, the victim, Ernesto Fuentes, stated that he was familiar with the name “Moses Alonzo,” as a man by that name used to live behind him, but had reportedly moved out of the area.

Fuentes said he’s not sure how the new checks were intercepted in the mail, but on May 20, police were dispatched to Washington Federal about Ortiz attempting to cash a check for $200. She claimed that Fuentes purchased a washer and dryer from her, but Fuentes denied that the transaction took place. Ortiz was charged with receiving stolen property and forgery.