Papa John’s robbed, suspect at large
Gallup Police Department Capt. Rick White said that a male suspect walked into Papa John’s on 2102 E. Hwy 66 shortly after noon on July 22 and demanded money. He lifted up his sweater to reveal a handgun. The cashier reportedly gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money, then he headed out of the restaurant westbound. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s, medium build, and was wearing a dark sweater with the word «Rocawear» inscribed on it, grey sweatpants, a blue baseball cap and sunglasses. White said a silver extended cab pickup truck was seen leaving, near the scene, at a high rate of speed. If you have any information, contact Crimestoppers: (505) 722-6846.
Shots Fired
Luckily no one was hurt on this shooting/threatening with a handgun rampage of sorts July 16. GPD Officer Norman Bowman was on patrol when he noticed on his unit’s computer a call originating from Tohatchi, which stated a woman had been threatened by a gun-wielding Gallup resident by the name of Christopher Becenti. On his way to Becenti’s home on Dairy Drive, Bowman received a call of shots fired by an intoxicated man driving around the Red Hills area in a white utility truck. Bowman arrived at the residence, with his AR-15 at the ready, and noted the white utility truck and some individuals standing near it. They pointed to Becenti and Bowman was able to handcuff him. His grandmother, Bernice Becenti, handed the weapon, that was in her purse, to the officer. As the investigation unfolded, eyewitness Kenneth Williams told detectives that Becenti, 25, knocked at his door, shot off three or four rounds and pointed the gun at him before leaving the scene. He was booked into McKinley County Adult Detention Center for aggravated assault and negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Child Abuse
GPD Officer Chaz Trocoso had no trouble finding Gloria Lee’s home as he heard screams coming from the 612 S. Second St. residence July 10. As Trocoso approached the premises he looked into a window a saw a female sans shirt being pulled by the hair and shoulder by another female. It appears the female being assaulted was trying to get away. The one doing the hair pulling was Lee, 39, and the female trying to get away from her was her 17-year-old daughter. According to the police report, Lee said that her daughter was the aggressor and she was merely defending herself. Lee’s daughter said her mom came home intoxicated and she was merely trying to get her mom into the house when things got heated between the two. Lee also said, the report states, that her daughter “was being disrespectful about [her] going out and consuming alcohol.” The daughter complained of back pain and her mom was arrested and booked into McKinley County Adult Detention Center for one count of child abuse.
Drunk Supervision Leads to Charges
Children, Youth, and Families Department requested a welfare check on a residence, 334 Black Diamond Canyon Dr. When GPD Officer Luke Martin arrived on the scene July 14, he observed a child crawling on the front stairs of the porch unattended. He noticed two more children laying on the couch inside the home. The mother, Loucinda Delgarito, 40, answered the door and the officer immediately recognized that she was intoxicated, and noted that the house seemed unkempt and there was the strong odor of animal urine or feces. Although the children said they felt safe, Martin took her into custody for three counts of child abandonment. Her sister, Ophelia Long, assumed temporary custody of the children. Delgarito blew a .20 during the alcohol breath test and later a .14.
Taking a Rest?
When Aaron Shorty, 31, parked in front of Debra Pino’s home, she immediately took notice of his dark colored Jeep and approached the intoxicated Shorty. She also noticed that his 4-year-old son was in the vehicle, according to the police report. She asked for the keys, but Shorty refused to hand them over, and instead, turned the car off and put the keys in his pocket. Pino took the child into her home for safety reasons and he was released to his mother when she arrived at the scene. Shorty was taken to the hospital for clearance and then booked into the McKinley County Detention Center for Child Abandonment.
Assault Results in Robbery Arrest
TJ Begay told GPD Officer Justin Benally that he was minding his own business as he crossed the downtown walkway on his way to visit family July 16. It was during this portion of his walk that he was reportedly accosted by Anthony Ray, Derrick Joe and an unknown male. He said that Ray, 42, punched him in the face and he fell down and a scuffle ensued. Begay said that Ray also made off with his blue Dodgers baseball cap. An employee with the American Bar gave up Ray’s location, and upon seeing dried blood on his knuckles, Benally arrested Ray for robbery.
