Valerie James-Antonio
Aug. 14, 11:36 pm
Aggravated DWI
On his way out of the El Rancho Hotel, Gallup Police Officer Julio Yazzie saw a tan pick-up truck driving the wrong way on the street. The truck turned west onto Aztec Avenue from Ford Drive and then into the eastbound turn lane while going westbound. Yazzie got behind the truck after it returned to the westbound lane. Then, after it turned north onto Navajo Drive, he conducted a traffic stop near the curb.
He met the driver, Valerie James-Antonio, 46, of Gallup. Antonio told Yazzie she was following her uncle in the truck in front of her. Yazzie noted she had bloodshot eyes and looked as if she spilled a drink on the front of her shirt. He asked her to step out of the tan truck and offered to administer the Standard Field Sobriety Tests.
Antonio said she had a bad knee, so alternative tests were given. She performed poorly on all of them and took a portable breath test, posting a sample of .182. She then admitted to having consumed alcohol several hours prior to driving with a passenger in her vehicle.
The passenger, who was also intoxicated, was transported to Gallup Detox while James-Antonio was placed under arrest. She agreed to give a breath sample and was transported to Gallup Police Department for the test, where she posted two samples of .16. James-Antonio was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI, driving on right side, and careless driving.
She was released on her own recognizance by Judge Janelle Griego.
Chelsea Yazzie
Aug. 13, 3:16 am
Aggravated DWI
A white Nissan that was seen swerving on the road on Highway 66 and striking several curbs was reported to Metro Dispatch by someone driving behind it. Gallup Police Officer Michael Eley was dispatched to locate the Nissan traveling westbound on the highway. As he passed a local hotel, he saw it.
Eley caught up to the Nissan, which pulled over on the side of the road near Gallup Municipal Airport, at 2111 W. Hwy. 66. He conducted a traffic stop and met the driver, Chelsea Yazzie, 29, of Kayenta, Ariz. As she rolled her window down, Eley noted a smell of alcohol coming from inside. The driver also appeared to have difficulty finding her identification.
She admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the day. She agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests. Yazzie mentioned that some of the exercises caused her pain, so Eley administered alternative tests. She performed poorly on each test and was placed under arrest. Eley searched the vehicle and found several open and empty containers of different types of alcohol strewn inside.
Yazzie agreed to give a breath sample and was transported to Gallup Police Department for the test, where she posted samples of .24 and .23. She was transported to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI and having an open container in her car.
Shantel Begay
Aug. 7, 1:53 am
Aggravated DWI
A vehicle was driving recklessly on Second Street and pulled into the parking lot of a nearby Speedway at 1730 S. Second St. Gallup Officer Julio Yazzie was dispatched to investigate. As his unit got close to the vehicle, the suspect tried to drive off, but Yazzie activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop.
He met the driver, Shantel Begay, 28, of Gallup. Yazzie noted Begay had bloodshot eyes and staggered as she got out of the vehicle. Begay told him she was picking up her brother at the Sports Page Bar at 1400 S. Second St., where she admitted to drinking two shots of whiskey.
Begay agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, but performed poorly and did not complete them. When Yazzie told her she was being taken into custody, she said, “No!” After he got cuffs on her and seated her in his unit, she started to repeat the word “No” over and over. He took that to mean she would not provide a breath sample.
Yazzie transported Begay to McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where she was booked for aggravated DWI and resisting arrest.
