Police were called to the Family Dollar store in Yatahey about 8:09 pm on Sept. 21 after being told a vehicle had abruptly left the scene, but not because of theft or violence.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Davis Jr. was dispatched to the store after being advised that a vehicle had crashed into the west side of the building and then left and traveled in an unknown direction. The vehicle was described as a teal four-door passenger sedan with New Mexico license plates.
Davis saw the Navajo Estates’ Volunteer Fire Department on scene when he arrived. He also saw a large hole and other damage on the west side of the building. Davis made contact with the store manager and checked the damage from the inside. One restroom and a storage and office room had been damaged.
An employee told Davis he was working the register at the time of the incident when he heard a loud crash outside. He looked out and saw a sport utility type vehicle driving off.
Deputy Clayton Etsitty arrived and took over the investigation while Davis investigated the crash scene. He saw teal paint transfers from the vehicle onto the side of the building along with tire marks in the Yatahey Gas Station parking lot. The tire marks showed the vehicle had driven off quickly.
There are no suspects, and the investigation is ongoing.
