DRIVER WITH PINK BACKPACK ABANDONS BRONZE CAR
Gamerco, Dec. 26
A bronze Hyundai was left near Draco Street in the morning after the driver apparently left the area.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Davis arrived at the scene and found the vehicle unoccupied. The caller met Davis and told him an unknown male carrying a pink backpack said the transmission went out and left. The caller said the man appeared to have something resembling a gun handle sticking out of his pocket, but the caller could not confirm that it was a firearm.
Davis checked the registration info and found the vehicle belonged to Luzaro Martin, 23, no address given. He met with Martin’s father, who told him he had come back earlier and left the scene again, despite being told to wait. One of the windows at the address was broken, and blood drops were seen on the ground.
Martin left the site. His father informed Davis his son might be on drugs. Davis searched the immediate area, but no contact was made and no other information was available.
ADDING INSULT TO ILLNESS
Gallup, Aug. 25
A man being given a ride to the Cancer Center in Gallup nearly had his Mazda stolen.
The caller informed Gallup Police they were being driven by Rudy Martinez, 52, of Iyanbito, to the center at 2240 College Dr. The caller got out of the vehicle when they arrived and thought he had his keys with him. But he realized he didn’t have them and returned to the lot after his visit to the center, to discover Martinez had left with his car.
Officer Aaron Marquez met with New Mexico State Police officers who had stopped the car near the Dollar Store at 2790 E. Hwy. 66. Three subjects, including Martinez, exited the Mazda.
Martinez faced charges of receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle. The report did not state if he was arrested or given a summons at the scene.
BREAKING THE HUT’S WINDOWS
Gallup, Aug. 24
An intoxicated man broke several windows and wound up facing charges for it.
Gallup Officer Aaron Marquez responded to a call for service from the Pizza Hut at 1510 E. Hwy. 66 about 5:54 pm. He was flagged down by a restaurant employee who was pointing to the suspect attempting to leave the scene. He was later identified as John Begay, 43, of Gallup.
Marquez detained Begay and spoke with the manager, who told him she had seen Begay standing outside the business. She said he threw rocks at the window. She confronted him, and he advanced toward her saying he would “take her down.” Several employees left the store. That was when Begay tried to leave when Marquez arrived.
Begay did have several rocks in his pocket, which looked similar to those found near the broken windows. The manager produced an invoice stating the damage totaled over $2,572.
A summons was filed for Begay for property damage over $1,000. He was transported to Gallup Detox.
T-SHIRT THEFT
Gallup, Aug. 21
A larceny was reported at the Boot Barn store at 804 N. U.S. Hwy. 491 about 9:58 am.
An employee told Gallup Police a male had come into the store and selected several items on display before asking for access to the fitting room. After the fitting room was unlocked, the male, later identified as Ryan Howes, 39, of Gallup, left the merchandise behind and then left the store.
The employee saw the security tags on the merchandise, several clothing items that totaled about $230, had been tampered with.
The employee said one man’s long-sleeved T-shirt worth $90 had damage to the neck from the ink on the security tag.
A pullover, valued at $50 was torn at the neck. And one camouflage color men’s T-shirt was stolen. It was priced at $90.
Plaza security was called along with Gallup Police, who identified the suspect.
The report said Howes would be summoned into Municipal Court for one count of shoplifting.
