Erin James
Jan. 27, 3:42 pm
Aggravated DWI
Erin James, 22, of Vanderwagen, N.M., was arrested and charged with DWI following an incident on the afternoon of Jan. 27, after nearly hitting another vehicle head-on. James did hit and break the driver’s side mirror.
Deputy Frank Villa Jr. was dispatched to the seventh mile marker of State Highway 400 in McGaffey in reference to several occupants in a silver Dodge Ram pickup who were driving while intoxicated, according to police reports.
Villa saw that the truck had crossed the double yellow center line and half the truck was on the wrong side of the road, prompting Villa to pull the truck’s driver over at the first mile marker of State Highway 400. As he approached it, Villa said he smelled alcohol coming from inside the truck.
Villa asked James to get out of the truck. Reports said she stumbled onto the roadway and to the bumper of the pickup. They also said she smelled of alcohol. James agreed to take the field sobriety tests.
After failing them, she agreed to take two breath tests: the first registering .18, and the second .17.
James was taken to the Gallup McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where she was charged with aggravated DWI, failure to maintain her lane, and leaving the scene of an accident.
She was released on her own recognizance.
Dyson Roberts Benally
Jan. 26, 6:27 pm
Aggravated DWI (2nd)
Metro Dispatch received a call from a motorist claiming a gray pickup truck without its lights on was tailgating him. The motorist said he was driving north on U.S. Highway 491 just across from King Dragon Restaurant, and that the other driver had pulled over onto the northbound shoulder of the highway.
Shortly thereafter, Dep. Franklin Begaye indicated he would be in contact with that gray Chevy Silverado at the 2.5 mile marker on U.S. 491.
At 6:44 pm Dep. Terence Willie arrived at the scene. He said he saw Begaye standing on the passenger side of the Chevy pickup. Willie said he also saw Dyson Benally, 32, of Chinle, Ariz. standing in the front of Begaye’s patrol car.
Willie approached Benally and saw that he had bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of liquor. Willie asked Benally to walk with him to his patrol car, but said Benally was disorderly and uncooperative. Willie grabbed Benally’s arm and led him to his patrol car, according to arrest reports.
Benally admitted to driving the gray Chevy and told the deputy he was coming from “down south.” He did not tell the deputy how much alcohol he had consumed. Benally said he was trying to drive home to St. Michaels, Ariz.
Benally agreed to take the field sobriety tests after taking off his hat and sunglasses and throwing them on the ground. Benally failed the tests.
Willie arrested Benally at 7 pm, according to police reports. He drove Benally to the Gallup McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with aggravated DWI, no registration, evidence of financial responsibility, and open container.
He was released on his own recognizance.
