MISTAKEN IDENTITY
Thoreau, June 3
A man falsely accused another man of driving drunk and nearly hitting him.
On June 3, around 4:41 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Davis Jr. was dispatched to 1 Larkspur Pl. in Thoreau because a man who was later identified as Marcus Lynch, 46, of Thoreau, was reporting he had almost been hit by a black SUV.
When Davis arrived at the scene, the SUV was gone. Lynch said the SUV had gone by his house a few times and that the driver owed him $80. He explained that he confronted the driver at his house at 7 Larkspur St.
He stated that the driver flipped him off, sped up, and almost hit him. He had jumped out of the way. The driver came back later and the people in the car gave him $20.
Lynch told Davis he wanted the driver arrested for a DWI.
Davis was able to speak to one of the women who had been in the SUV. She explained that Lynch had confronted them, asking for money the woman said one of her brothers owes. He had a crowbar, and tried to hit the car with it.
She said that the person who owes Lynch money is her brother who is in Colorado.
Her other brother gave Lynch $20. The woman said he then backed the car up after Lynch threatened him with the crowbar. Davis asked her if her brother was drunk. She answered that her brother did not drink.
After speaking with the two siblings, Davis drove back to 1 Larkspur Pl. to talk to Lynch.
Lynch told the officer he was sorry for wasting his time.
SEEING THE KIDS
Gallup, May 30
A Gallup man broke into a house that belongs to the mother of his children while she was on vacation.
On May 30, around 1:53 am, Gallup Police Officer Iris Martinez was dispatched to 1407 Romero Cir. because a woman reported that a man had broken into her house.
The woman explained that her family had been out of town and her neighbor had been watching the house. The neighbor went to check on the house and when they opened the back door, a man later identified as Cody Hoskie, 33, of Gallup, was inside.
The victim’s family got home about 30 minutes before Martinez arrived. The victim said she noticed the back door was open and that it had been kicked in.
The Gallup woman found Hoskie asleep in the playroom. She stated that she woke him and told him to leave.
In her report, Martinez noted that she found Hoskie lying on a couch in the house. She asked him how he got into the house and he said he had just walked in.
The woman who lived there explained that an officer had previously told Hoskie he isn’t allowed inside the house. Hoskie is the father of the woman’s children, but the parents have been separated for about a year. Hoskie has never lived in the house.
The woman said Hoskie comes back to the house because he is homeless. She doesn’t let him stay at the house, but he does come by to see the children.
Martinez took pictures of the damaged back door.
Metro Dispatch confirmed that Hoskie had a warrant out for his arrest. She then arrested him and drove him to the McKinley County Detention Center, where he was booked for breaking and entering.
Hoskie was released on his own recognizance.
BAR FIGHT
Gallup, May 27
Two men got into an argument with the owner of the Sports Page Lounge at 1400 S. Second St. and refused to leave when asked.
One of the men, Aaron Begay, 40, reportedly pulled out a knife.
Gallup Police Officer Nicole Diswood was dispatched to the site on May 27.
According to her report, Diswood saw three men arguing when she arrived. Lieutenant Steve Collins patted the men down for weapons and found a knife on Begay.
One of the men stated that Begay had threatened him with the knife.
He said the man with Begay approached him and he just kept telling him he needed to leave. He said Begay’s companion threw a punch, but missed him and then grabbed the man’s shirt and ripped it when he attempted to get away.
The man took off his shirt and he and Begay’s companion began wrestling on the ground. That’s when Begay walked up and pulled out his knife, swinging it at the man.
Begay put the knife away, but then tried to punch the victim.
Begay was charged with aggravated assault and attempted battery.
He was released on his own recognizance.
$27,000 WRAPPED IN DIAPERS
Gallup, May 10
A man who was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 40 had $27,000 in his car.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnson Lee pulled a black Toyota Corolla that was going 74 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone over on Interstate 40 around 8:27 am on May 10.
When he approached the driver, later identified as Marvin Nicolas, 22, from Oceanside, Calif., Nicolas stated that the car belonged to a friend and that he was going to Albuquerque with his wife and child.
In his report, Lee noted that Nicolas appeared nervous the entire time he was talking to him. Lee told him he could go, but then called him back and asked if they could talk further. Nicolas agreed. Lee repeated the previous questions, asking if Nicolas was carrying firearms, large amounts of cash or illegal narcotics.
Lee asked to search the car and Nicolas agreed.
Deputy Brandon Salazar, who was also helping with the search said there was cash inside the car. Three bundles were hidden inside three diapers inside a sports bag. One of the bundles totaled $10,000 in $100 dollar bills.
When questioned about the cash, Nicolas told Lee he had a carwash in California and had been saving the money. When asked the name of the business, Nicolas said he didn’t have one. Then he said he was working for a landscaping business. When asked about it, he had no name for the business. He said it was with friends. Then he said he had $100 bills because friends would give him the bills in exchange for smaller bills.
Lee contacted the DEA, shared the story and was advised to take the money. The DEA said they would get a federal seizure warrant.
Nicolas was told what was happening with the money and was released from the scene.
Salazar and Lee took the money to Pinnacle Bank where it was counted. The bundles totaled $27,000 in $100 bills. It was then logged into the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WINDSHIELD?
Gamerco, May 6
A Gamerco woman said her silver Nissan Sentra had a broken windshield and tail light that she didn’t discover until she awoke the morning after a visit to Farmington.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Clayton Etsitty was dispatched to 205 Ray Ave. in Gamerco May 6 around 10:51 am.
When he arrived the woman was standing by her car. She said she had gotten home around 11 pm.
According to his report, Etsitty checked the car to make sure it hadn’t been broken into. There was no sign of a forced entry.
Deputies have been called out to 206 Ray Avenue in the past, but the woman said she didn’t think neighbors had been responsible for the damage.
The Gamerco woman said she didn’t know when the damage had occurred.
Etsitty asked her if she knew of anyone who would intentionally break her car’s windshield, and she said some of her family members could possibly have a motive.
Etsitty told the victim he would file a report.
