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WEEKLY DWI REPORT

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Edwin Begay

Oct. 3, 7:33 pm

Aggravated DWI (1st offense)

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Villa Jr. answered an attempt-to-locate order from Metro Dispatch for a gold pickup truck headed eastbound on Highway 118.

Shortly after answering, Villa spotted the vehicle in question heading east on Highway 118 near mile marker 29 and proceeded to follow it. Villa noted the vehicle swerved from left to right as it drove, and when the driver tried to turn left onto Highway 566, he made a wide left turn and straddled the white shoulder line.

Villa turned on his emergency lights and then his siren. Eventually the suspect vehicle stopped north of a bridge and pulled over to the right side of the road. But the rear section of the vehicle was still protruding onto the road.

Villa made contact with the driver, Edwin Begay, 38, of Churchrock. He noted Begay had bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech, and did not appear to know what was going on. Begay asked if he could call his mother as Villa told him to step out of the vehicle.

As Begay made his way to the back of the truck, Villa took the keys out of the ignition and noted a strong smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from Begay.

When asked how much he had to drink, Begay said he had one 24 ounce Camel about three hours prior. Begay refused to take the standard field sobriety test, and Villa placed him under arrest for aggravated DWI.

Begay also refused a breath test. He was transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked.

 

Gabriel Yazzie

Oct. 1, 1:42 pm

Aggravated DWI

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Garylle James was dispatched to the Continental Divide area in response to a caller who said she had caught a ride with two males who were highly intoxicated and swerving all over the road.

Shortly after the call, MCSO Deputy James Sanchez and Deputy Nocona Clark initiated a traffic stop near Thoreau for a maroon Nissan Cube near the Red Mesa Express, 119 Hwy. 371.

James made contact with Sanchez and Clark and told them he would handle the DUI investigation. He then made contact with the driver, Gabriel Yazzie, 40, of Laveen, Ariz.

Yazzie said he was going from Thoreau to Casamero Lake. James noted he had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and carried the smelled of alcohol.

James administered the standard field sobriety test. Yazzie either did not follow directions or could not complete the task he was given. James placed Yazzie under arrest for aggravated DWI.

Yazzie agreed to a breath test and was transported to the sheriff’s office, where he posted two samples of .26. He was then transported and booked at McKinley County Adult Detention Center.