Marissa Paiz
June 19, 10:45 pm
Aggravated DWI (Second)
McKinley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling said she was traveling north on Second Street when she noticed a car having trouble staying in its lane. When it almost hit a curb, she conducted a traffic stop.
Marissa Paiz, 41, of Gamerco, admitted she had a few drinks before driving. Houghtaling also found a half-empty liquor miniature in the pocket of the driver’s side door.
She agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests and had problems following instructions. After failing the tests, she was arrested.
She agreed to take a breath alcohol test and posted samples of .20 and .19.
She was released on her own recognizance by a judge.
Myron Johnson
June 19, 10:24 pm
DWI (Sixth)
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Terrance Willie said he was driving on Highway 118 when he observed a car speeding and did a traffic stop.
When he met Myron Johnson, 52, of Crownpoint, he noticed several signs that Johnson could be intoxicated. He also noticed liquor bottles in the center console and on the floor.
When asked when was the last time he had a drink, Johnson said he couldn’t lie and it was about an hour before he started driving. When asked how much he had to drink, he said he was at a party and “everyone was drinking.”
Johnson added that he probably had one drink too many.
He agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests and failed so he was arrested for DWI.
When asked if he would take a breath alcohol test, he said no. But when it was explained to him that because of all of his past convictions, he would be taken to a hospital and have a blood test, he changed his mind. He posted samples of .18 and .17.
Nelford Begay
June 18, 2:19 pm
Aggravated DWI
McKinley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling was advised of a driver passed out on South Chino Road in his car.
She went to the site and found Nelford Begay, 45, of Many Farms, slumped over the wheel and the engine running. Her first attempt to wake him up did not work, but she finally did and he turned the engine off.
When asked how much he had to drink, he said only one beer. She later found an open beer bottle in his car.
She asked if he was willing to take the field sobriety tests and he refused, saying he just had surgery. He also refused to take the alternative test and was arrested. He also refused to take a breath alcohol test.
When he was taken to jail, he told the booking clerk that he was taking medication for an infection in his mouth and the clerk refused to book him so he had to be transported to Tse Bonito.
Joshua Jishie
June 9, 7:10 pm
DWI
Gallup Police Officer Domenic Molina was dispatched to Lowe’s West about a call of a possible intoxicated driver.
He found the car at one of the pumps and talked to the driver. Joshua Jishie, 28, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., who showed signs of being drunk. Molina said he was evasive when asked how much he had been drinking, saying it didn’t matter because he was going to be arrested.
Molina said he also observed the man wearing a hood and trying not to look at him.
Jishie agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests, but failed to follow instructions, which Molina said he took as a refusal.
He agreed to take the breath alcohol tests, but when it came time to do so, he refused to take them.
Elias Rascon
June 1, 9:27 pm
DWI (Second)
McKinley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling said she was driving south on South Second Street when she noticed a vehicle that had problems staying in its lane.
She followed and a few miles later did a traffic stop.
She said Elias Rascon, 56, of Gallup, showed signs of being intoxicated. He admitted to drinking a six pack of beer and had a miniature bottle of beer in his pocket.
Rascon agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests and had problems following the instructions. After failing the tests, he was arrested.
He agreed to take the breath alcohol tests and posted two samples of .15. He was released on his own recognizance by a judge.
