Joshua Gray
July 23, 11:58 pm
DWI (Fourth)
A concerned citizen called the police after hearing a driver, Joshua Gray, 31, argue with his passenger while in the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant. Gray then drove forward where his card was declined and he took off without paying for his food. He drove around the building where he parked, reversed, then jerked forward before parking again.
When Gallup Police Officer Vincent Thompson arrived, he approached Gray. Gray had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, according to police reports. Thompson asked Gray where he was going, and Gray changed his story several times. When Gray refused to take the field sobriety tests, he was arrested. Thompson obtained a warrant for Gray’s blood. Gray was booked for his fourth DWI.
Gray posted $1,000 cash or surety bond.
Jerred Judge
July 17, 10:20 pm
DWI
After being called to the El Rancho Hotel for a hit-and-run, Gallup Police Officer Vincent Thompson met with the security guard who told him a white Dodge Neon struck two cars in the parking lot. The security guard said he stood in the parking lot and held up both hands, signaling the Neon to stop, but the car sped up and the guard had to jump out of the way. The car left the parking lot and went down the street before parking in front of Furniture Dynamite.
Thompson found the Neon and approached the driver, who became verbally disorderly, according to police reports. Thompson said he checked the car and found a dent with paint transfer on the passenger side. The driver, Jerred Judge, 30, of Gallup, had slurred speech and was swaying while standing, according to Thompson. Judge refused to take any field sobriety tests and upon being arrested, Thompson found a bag of marijuana on him. Judge was booked for DWI, aggravated assault and failure to notify of an accident.
Judge was released on his own recognizance.
Lionel Chavez
July 17, 3:25 pm
DWI (Fifth)
After nearly being hit by a green Chevy pickup in Twin Lakes, Jason Billy and Franklin Sandoval followed the truck into Gallup. They said they saw the truck swerve repeatedly, nearly hitting several other cars, and hitting the median before stopping at a traffic light. The two approached the driver, Lionel Chavez, 28 of Gallup, and Billy pulled the keys from the ignition. At that point, Chavez tried to get away on foot, but Sandoval wrestled him to the ground.
When Gallup Police Officer Ernesto Giron arrived, Chavez was wearing handcuffs and standing in front of his truck with Billy and Sandoval on either side of him. Giron proceeded to give Chavez field sobriety tests and he failed each one. Chavez was arrested and refused to provide breath samples. He was booked for his fifth DWI, driving on a suspended license, open container, and no registration.
Chavez posted $2,500 cash or surety bond.
Christopher Begay
July 16, 10:04 pm
DWI
Gallup Police Officer Terrance Peyketewa was checking for speeders on Highway 66 when he noticed a gray Kia run a stop sign pulling onto the roadway. Peyketewa hit his lights and siren and took off after the car, according to police reports. The driver, Christopher Begay, 30, from Gamerco, refused to stop. He made a sharp turn onto Puerco Street and continued at a high rate of speed. The chase continued onto Coal Street where the car stopped briefly, but before Peyketewa could get out of his car, the Kia was moving again.
Begay turned onto First Street and collided with a silver truck that was parked on the curb, but still did not stop. Dragging his vehicle’s bumper, Begay turned into an alley and crashed into a light pole before stepping out with his hands raised. Peyketewa said he could smell alcohol as he spoke to the driver and Begay told him he had drunk a pint of peppermint schnapps.
Begay was cleared by medics before he was taken in, where he gave breath samples of .13 and .11. He was booked for DWI, aggravated fleeing and no registration.
Begay was released on his own recognizance.
Nathaniel Skeet
July 14, 6:46 pm
DWI (Third)
Concerned about a white truck playing loud music and revving its engine while small children played in front of it, led a resident to call the police on Nathaniel Skeet, 37 from Bread Springs, N.M. When Gallup Police Officer Aaron Marquez arrived on the scene, he said Skeet smelled of alcohol and had trouble standing up, according to police reports.
Marquez tried to get Skeet to take the field sobriety tests, but Skeet eventually refused. Marquez found several empty cans of Bud Light Seltzer as well as empty shooter bottles in the truck.
Skeet was taken into custody and at the station he consented to giving a breath sample. The sample came back as .22 and Skeet was booked for his third DWI, no driver’s license and open container.
He was released on his own recognizance.
