GETTING THEIR STORIES STRAIGHT
Gallup, Nov. 4
A black Dodge Charger was seen driving too close to a semi truck near mile marker 20 on Interstate 40, where McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Salazar performed a traffic stop.
Salazar approached the vehicle and met the two occupants, Scott Blodgett, 46, and Adam Lafrance, 50, no address given for either man. After asking them to exit the vehicle to speak with him, Salazar noted the occupants began to talk to each other frantically, as though they were making sure they had the same story.
Blodgett told Salazar they were coming from San Jose, Calif., where they had finished a paint job. Salazar then spoke with Lafrance and repeated some of the details to him, except his answers conflicted with what Blodgett said. Both men appeared nervous as they spoke with Salazar.
Due to their inconsistent stories, Salazar determined they were involved in illegal activities. They refused to let Salazar search the vehicle, after which he detained them and applied for a search warrant.
After he got the warrant, Salazar was informed that there was methamphetamine in the car. He searched it and found two bags with about 2.18 pounds of meth and a glass pipe.
Both men were placed under arrest for trafficking controlled substances.
Blodgett posted bond ($25,000 cash or surety).
TAKING A CANE
Gallup, Aug. 10
Gallup Police were informed of a fight underway near the El Rancho Hotel and dispatched officers. Officer Richard Rangel arrived at the scene and found one of the suspects, a juvenile identified only as K, carrying a metal pole near the hotel.
Two other officers met one of the other parties at that location, who said earlier that day, K had broken into the premises and taken an antique cane worth $500 out of his truck. Later, the caller said they saw the suspect near the scene again. When he confronted K and asked what he was doing, K fled.
Rangel detained K at the scene and traveled to the site of the reported theft, 920 E. Hwy. 66, where he reviewed security footage of the incident. He did see K approach a truck onsite and take several items out, including the cane.
Based on the investigation, Rangel placed K under arrest for the theft. He transported him to Gallup Indian Medical Center for clearance and tried to contact his family, but was unsuccessful. After receiving clearance, K was taken to San Juan Juvenile Detention Center and booked for the burglary.
FROM TANTRUM TO ARREST
Gallup, Aug. 9
Metro Dispatch was informed that an intoxicated female fell asleep near the Dollar Tree store at 2790 E. Hwy. 66. A Gallup Public Service Officer went to the scene first and found the suspect. When he tried to wake her, she woke up and splashed an unknown clear liquid in his face.
Gallup Police Officer Warren Bowannie followed, ensuring the PSO was okay before speaking with the suspect, later identified as Brooke Jones, 35, of Crownpoint. She was yelling and screaming, refusing to answer Bowannie’s questions.
Jones continued to scream and cry as officers waited for an ambulance. She eventually got up and ran onto Highway 66, where there was traffic. The officers followed her onto the roadway, and managed to avoid the incoming traffic while trying to get Jones to return to the side of the road.
An unknown driver assisted them by slowing down and preventing other vehicles from advancing. That’s when Jones was handcuffed and taken to the PSO unit. She was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center for clearance.
Dispatch then informed Bowannie that Jones had two active warrants from McKinley County Magistrate Court and Gallup Municipal Court. She was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for the warrants, battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest, and concealing identity.
Jones was released on her own recognizance by Judge Cynthia Sanders.
WHO CUT THE FENCE?
Gallup, Aug. 8
An alarm went off at Horizon Plumbing near Indian Jewelry Supply, 601 E. Coal Ave., about 2:34 pm. Gallup Police Officer Daniel Brown was dispatched to the scene.
He arrived and found no disturbance at Horizon Plumbing, but the owner informed him there was a ladder propped up against the chain link fence around Indian Jewelry Supply and a hole had been cut into the fence.
Brown and another officer found the hole in the fence. They also found clothing and tools there, an indication that someone could have been staying in the nearby generator.
No suspects were found and there were no other disturbances at the scene. There was no estimate for the property damage.
SCHOOL BUS VANDALIZED
Rehoboth, Aug. 8
A spare bus that was parked and unused due to the COVID-19 pandemic was found vandalized by Rehoboth High School staff.
Gallup Police Officer Cindy Romancito met with the person who made the call and verified the damage to the bus, including several broken windows and lights, a damaged back door, and debris inside the bus, including an empty bottle of Crown Royal whiskey.
Romancito reviewed the security footage of the scene, which showed 3 or 4 (the report was not specific) individuals pulling up near the bus the previous night at about 11:15 pm and heading toward the bus where they eventually inflicted the damage.
The estimated damage totaled over $1,000. No other information was available.
CHECK THE MAIL!
Gallup, Aug. 8
Residents at the trailer park near Alto Place found their mailboxes damaged and open. One resident suspected the damage could have been caused by her sister.
She told Gallup Police Officer Joe Roanhorse that her sister had been asking her repeatedly to check the mail because she was expecting an unknown item. Several days went by where the sister called and told her to check the mail.
She told Roanhorse that her sister continued to press her about the mail and she said she didn’t check it on weekends because she did not think it was delivered on those days.
Then she learned that her sister finally received whatever it was she had been awaiting. So she decided to check her mailbox. But, when she went to check her mailbox on Aug. 7, she found it had been opened with no mail in it. Two other mailboxes at the same location also appeared to have been tampered with. However, these other boxes still had their mail in them.
Despite the calling party’s suspicions, Roanhorse stated they could not prove it was the sister who broke into the boxes. The larceny was reported, but there were no suspects listed in the report.
