Ronald Begay
July 3, 3:37 pm
Aggravated DWI
McKinley County Sheriff’s Sergeant Tammy Houghtaling was on patrol near U.S. Highway 264 when she was advised of a call for service for a vehicle that had left Sagebrush Liquors.
Houghtaling saw the truck as it traveled east and she began following it. They passed the Ya-ta-hey Family Dollar store and continued southbound on the highway. The suspect vehicle swerved between lanes and abruptly stopped, at which point Houghtaling made contact with the driver, Ronald Begay, 54, of Flagstaff, Ariz. She noted he had a smell of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot eyes.
Begay placed his hands on the back of his pickup and kept saying “I understand.” He did not agree to take the standard field sobriety tests, but did admit to drinking the previous day and night.
He was transported to the sheriff’s office for the breath test, where he posted samples of .24 and .22. He was then transported and booked.
Begay was later released on his own recognizance by a judge.
Shelby Sandoval
June 27, 8:58 pm
Aggravated DWI (Third)
McKinley County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Monty Yazzie was traveling on Highway 66 when he saw an eastbound vehicle speeding. He engaged his emergency equipment and proceeded to follow the vehicle.
The chase went just south of Aztec Avenue on Tocito Trail on the east side of Gallup. Yazzie told the driver, later identified as Shelby Sandoval, 28, of Gallup, to throw the keys on the roof of the car, which she did.
Yazzie made contact with Sandoval, noting she had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and smelled of alcohol. After waiting for an officer with recording equipment to arrive, Yazzie conducted the standard field sobriety test, which Sandoval failed.
Sandoval was uncooperative as Yazzie read the New Mexico Implied Consent Act and then transported her to a local hospital for medical clearance.
A summons for charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated, speeding, having an open container, and no driver’s license was filed with the Magistrate Court.
