HAND SANITIZER INSTEAD OF BEER
Thoreau, Oct. 23
A man who entered the Speedway store in Thoreau before 3 am, couldn’t get the beer out of the refrigerator, so he took hand sanitizer instead. Julius Hoskie, 55, of Thoreau was upset about something when he approached the beer refrigerators and tried to open them.
The cashier saw him take two bottles of hand sanitizer and put them into his pockets and leave the store without paying. The cashier called 911 and McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Miguel Bittony drove to the store. He confirmed Hoskie matched the caller’s description and detained him while he spoke with the cashier about the incident.
Hoskie appeared intoxicated and was unruly while the items were returned to the store. He was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for shoplifting.
Hoskie was released on his own recognizance by Judge Virginia A. Yazzie.
IT WAS THERE WHEN WE LEFT
Gallup, Oct. 19
Two males left a 29-foot trailer parked in the lot of All Nations Church, 494 U.S. Hwy. 491, and traveled to Window Rock, Ariz. for work after 7 am. When they got back at about 5:30 pm, the trailer was gone.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Terence Willie searched the scene and found tire tracks, which he stated might belong to a half-ton pickup truck, that pulled the trailer and left northbound on U.S. Highway 491.
Willie contacted the owner of the trailer, also the supervisor of the calling party, for more information about the trailer. The trailer had been parked at the church for more than a year. Its value is estimated at $20,000. There are no suspects.
STOLEN VEHICLE CHASE
Gallup, Oct. 23
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Villa Jr. was parked in the northbound lane of U.S. Highway 491 monitoring passing vehicles. He saw a blue Toyota Tacoma drive by at 74 mph followed by a black vehicle. The vehicles were in a 45-mph zone, so he followed them.
Villa caught up to the vehicles near the intersection at Metro Avenue and met the driver of the Toyota Tacoma, Kaitlyn Lucero, 21, of Gallup. She told Villa the black car’s driver had thrown something at her vehicle and was chasing her. But when Villa went to meet the other driver, Lucero shifted gears and fled from the scene.
A pursuit began through Jefferson Avenue and other nearby streets. While he followed Lucero, Villa was advised by Metro Dispatch that the vehicle she was driving was registered as stolen. Deputy Johnson Lee joined the pursuit and he followed Lucero onto Draco Street, where she eventually pulled into a driveway and was detained.
When Villa arrived and asked her why she fled, Lucero said she had a warrant. Villa searched Metro Dispatch and did not find any warrants for her. She also stated she did not know the vehicle was stolen. There was a needle containing a dark substance inside the vehicle that the officers believed to be heroin.
Lucero was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for receiving a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and evading arrest.
Lucero was still in custody as of Nov. 3 with $1,000 cash or 10 percent bond.
STEALING A CAR — HOLLYWOOD STYLE
Thoreau, Oct. 20
A man who left his keys in his truck wound up breaking into it through the back window of the cab while it was in motion.
A part-time caretaker for Dayspring Church, #41 First Ave., stopped by the church on Oct. 19 to feed the dogs on the premises. When he went inside the fenced area, he heard his vehicle, a white Chevy pickup truck, turn on. He had left his keys inside the vehicle and ran back toward it, where he saw it start to take off.
He was able to catch up to the truck and climbed into the back as it turned westbound onto First Avenue. He broke the back window and got inside the cab, where he began to fight with the thief. However, the thief had a knife and stabbed the caretaker in the forearm and then cut his face.
The truck struck an unknown object, knocking both males out of the vehicle. The suspect was last seen heading east on First Avenue and was not positively identified. The victim was taken to the clinic in Thoreau, before being transported to the emergency room in Crownpoint. He had visible injuries when he spoke with McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Dewayne Holder.
Holder asked to contact the owner of the truck or any of the staff who treated the victim, but there was no other information available.
WIRING LEADS TO THEFT
Gallup, Oct. 20
An extension cord became the center of a fight.
A residence on Portal Street was burglarized. McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Timo Molina was dispatched to the scene. The owner of the mobile home said items worth approximately $550 were taken. She also said there was an extension cord running out of the trailer taking power to another address.
Molina met with two callers from the scene, who pointed the cord out.
The cord led to a residence where Molina met Shawn Denney, 44, of Gamerco, who was identified as the suspect by the callers. Another officer stated he was familiar with Denney, who had stayed in a shack-like building at a residence on Draco Street and was believed to be using the illegal power. This was verified by Gallup City Electrical Department.
The calling parties stated they heard noise and voices coming from the residence on Portal Street, and when they entered, they saw the back door was open. They found a group of males behind the residence, and they all took off when the callers saw them. The only male in the group who was identified was Denney.
Denney was placed under arrest and booked for burglary, receiving stolen property, and falsely obtaining services
Denney was in custody as of Nov. 3 with a $1500 cash or 10 percent bond.
