Curbing potential tragedies on the roads and highways
Between McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and Gallup Police Officers, over a dozen dangerous people were taken off of the streets of McKinley County. The following arrests are a result of the hard work of patrol officers, saturation patrols and the McKinley County DWI Task Force.
Lieutenant James Maiorano, MCSO Spokesperson, said that DWI is a trend and it is a problem and they will continue to combat it.
“Whether it is [DWI] grant or just patrol, DWI is always going to be a priority for McKinley County until we address it on all sides, the legal side and the educational side,” Maiorano said.
Captain Rick White, GPD, had a warning those deciding to drink and then get behind the wheel and endanger the lives of the public.
“During the month of May, Gallup Police will be conducting checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the month,” he said.
Tyler Yazzie, 21, Fort Defiance, Ariz.
Timothy Begay, 27, Yahtahey, N.M.
Yazzie and Begay both found themselves incarcerated after a night of partying April 19 ended with them being pursued through Gallup by McKinley County Sheriff’s Office deputies and crashing at North 3rd Street and Lincoln. Several open containers of alcohol as well as a pipe, mostly used for smoking marijuana, with “residue of what is believed to be marijuana” were found inside the vehicle. Yazzie, the driver was arrested and charged with Aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, DWI, Careless Driving, Resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, Open Container, Possession of drug paraphernalia, required position and method of turning and Driver’s must be licensed. Begay was arrested on two outstanding bench warrants, he was a passenger in the vehicle. A third person in the vehicle, Trie Hicks, 22 of Yahtahey, N.M., was taken to Gallup Detox and given a citation for Open Container in a motor vehicle.
Carson Lee Becenti, 24, Gallup, N.M.
Becenti was arrested for DWI and for Stop Yield at Intersection by Gallup Police Officer Dewayne Holder on April 20. Holder witnessed Becenti drive straight through the intersection of Jefferson and US Highway 491 when the arrow, not the light, turned green. This was a first offense for Becenti.
Kendrick J. Boyd, 22, Mentmore, N.M.
Boyd was arrested by Gallup Police Officer Harland Soseeah, April 21, after he was spotted traveling at a high rate of speed on West Highway 66. Soseeah observed Boyd’s vehicle veer off of the roadway twice narrowly missing a guardrail. Boyd was charged with Aggravated DWI for refusing to take a breathalyzer test as well as Careless Driving.
Brian Hoskie, 26, Brimhall, N.M.
Hoskie was taken into the custody of the Navajo Police Department, April 16, after a domestic dispute, a vehicle pursuit and a short foot pursuit which took McKinley County Sheriff’s Office deputies onto Tohlakai Rd. Hoskie was reportedly fighting with his girlfriend and left her behind at a Shell station on North Highway 491, he was reported to be highly intoxicated and possibly uncooperative. Hoskie failed to stop for Deputy Monty Yazzie and traveled away at a high rate of speed onto the dirt road, kicking up dust and causing Yazzie to slow down. Hoskie crashed on a one way bridge and took off on foot where he was soon located, telling the deputies that he ran because he was drunk. Hoskie was turned over to NPD.
Alexandir Nakai, 23, Window Rock, Ariz.
Nakai was arrested after being transported to the hospital due to crashing his Silver Toyota Camry on April 19 near Speedy’s Convenience Store on Highway 264 near Tse Bonito. Nakai was reported by a witness to have been traveling at a very high rate of speed, hitting the median twice and then losing control and crashing into a concrete pillar. Nakai told deputies that he was trying to pass another vehicle and he remembered losing control, not rolling his vehicle. Nakai was charged with DWI and Careless Driving.
Debbie Begay, 27, Crownpoint, N.M.
Begay was arrested on April 15 and charged with Aggravated DWI, vehicles to be insured, vehicles to be registered, open container in a motor vehicle and roadways laned for traffic. Begay’s erratic driving behavior attracted the attention of MCSO Deputy Merlin Benally. After stopping the vehicle on Highway 371 in Thoreau and smelling the distinct odor of alcohol, he gave Begay field sobriety tests. Begay was arrested and given a breathalyzer which she blew .32 and a .30.
Bobby Gorman III, 32,Gallup, N.M.
Gorman was seen hitting a stop sign in the area of Hassler Valley Road and Superman Canyon Road April 17, he then hit the curb and got stuck at the turn into New Mexico Human Services. MCSO Deputy Nocona Clark approached Gorman, who was “not cooperating” and kept reaching into his vehicle. He was soon handcuffed and booked into the jail for his third DWI arrest, this one aggravated for refusing to take a breath test. He was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failure to give immediate notice of an accident, careless driving, open container, display of valid registration, driving on a suspended/revoked driver’s license and proof of insurance. His other three passengers were reportedly highly intoxicated and were taken to Gallup Detox.
Ernest Pahe, 72, Window Rock, Ariz.
Pahe was arrested by MCSO Deputy Merle Bates after he was seen speeding on Highway 491. Pahe failed several field sobriety tests and registered at a .16 on a portable breathalyzer. Pahe was taken to the jail were the breathalyzer results were .17. He was charged with Aggravated DWI and speeding.
Michael Tsosie, 43, Brimhall, N.M.
Tsosie was taken into custody on April 18 at the Gas Max station on Highway 491 after being called in as a possible intoxicated driver leaving after being refused alcohol sales at Sagebrush on Highway 264. DWI Task Force Supervisor Tammy Houghtaling arrested Tsosie and charged him with DWI, turning movements, display of valid registration, driving on a suspended/revoked driver’s license and no insurance.
Rueben Begay, 63, Yahtahey, N.M.
In another instance of good community employees, Begay was also refused sale of alcohol from Giant on North 491. The employee waved down Gallup Police Officer Luke Martin and pointed out Begay leaving the area. Martin stopped Begay and transported him to the hospital for a blood draw. He was charged with DWI, driving on a suspended/revoked driver’s license and improper used of evidence of registration. Begay was also charged with an equipment violation for his front windshield being cracked to the point of being unsafe.
Alexander Laweka, 32, Zuni, N.M.
Laweka was arrested for his first DWI and following too closely after he was involved in a vehicle crash on Munoz Overpass which caused traffic to back up April 3.
