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Man picked up driving stolen car, gets a DWI

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A man who thought he spotted his brother’s stolen car contacted the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department. It was March 4. Derrick Natonabah saw a GMC Sierra that he believed was stolen from the Navajo Police Department in Window Rock, Arizona March 1.

The vehicle was seen near Sage Brush Liquor on Highway 264 bearing an Arizona license plate. Natonabah followed the half-blue spray-painted GMC to a Home Depot. As the vehicle continued traveling and the jurisdiction changed, the Gallup Police became involved.

GPD Patrolman Dominic Molina stopped the driver of the Sierra. The driver was identified as Alonzo Davis, 45, of Phoenix, Arizona.

When Molina approached Davis, he said the driver had bloodshot watery eyes. But Molina’s report said Davis denied drinking that night,

Officer Caleb Kleeberger said a green leafy substance was found inside the middle console below the radio, within reach of the driver. He said based on training and experience, it appeared to be marijuana,.

Davis was placed under arrest for DWI after taking and failing the field sobriety tests. His breath test results were 0.10/0.09. Both results are over the legal limit of 0.08.

Molina searched the Sierra and found two passengers, who were released from the scene. In addition, open bottles of Blue Moon beer and Importer’s Vodka were found on the floorboard of the passenger seat.

Davis was transferred to and booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center without incident on four charges, including DWI, his second. But he was not charged with stealing a vehicle, because when officers checked the license plate of the GMC Sierra, it was not listed as stolen in the National Crime Information Center records.

The car was returned to Natonabah the night of Molina’s investigation.

Davis is in custody at the McKinley County Detention Center with an out of state warrant.

Kevin Opsahl contributed to this report.

By Beth Blakeman
Managing Editor