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Tuesday, Mar 19th

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WEEKLY DWI REPORT

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Michael Kirk, 48, Gallup, NM

DWI – Alcohol/Drugs

Felony: Great Bodily Injury

Kirk is facing multiple charges for allegedly running over his friend Buddy Jeffries – three times – according to a State Police report compiled by Officer Chanelle Preston July 17. Jeffries told Preston that he and Kirk were arguing, and when he got out to walk toward his house, Kirk started driving his truck toward him, proceeding to run him over three times with his black pickup truck. “I don’t know what Mike’s problem is,” Jeffries, told the officer, according to the report. Jeffries suffered multiple rib fractures, contusions/lacerations, and a fracture to his left knee. Kirk reportedly told Gallup Police Department Officer Matthew Ashley that six men jumped him and Jeffries at Rocket Lounge. He’s facing felony charges for running Jeffries over and a DWI, along with some smaller charges.

Raymond Romero, 23, Gallup, NM

4th DWI

GPD Officer Timothy Hughte was on patrol when he noticed Romero driving a white pickup truck down Montoya Boulevard eastbound with no headlights on July 14. Romero was reportedly smoking and handed the officer a state ID card and couldn’t provide proof of vehicle insurance and registration. After Hughte placed Romero under arrest, he found open containers of alcohol, stating that “Some cans were old and some were fresh.”  In addition to the DWI, Romero was also charged with driving with a suspended/revoked license, among other charges.

Kelli M. Arthur, 46, Crownpoint, NM

3rd DWI

Maybe the third time is a charm for Arthur, who was pulled over by McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Merlin Benally July 20 on U.S. Route 491. Arthur was slurring words and couldn’t pass any of the field sobriety tests. The two passengers in the white Chevy Malibu were intoxicated as well, so the vehicle belonging to Robert Billie was towed away. Arthur was also charged with driving with a suspended/revoked license.

Lionel Shorty, 27, Crownpoint, NM

3rd DWI

Shorty reportedly caught a GPD Officer Angelo Cellicion’s attention when he turned northbound onto U.S. Route 491 from Metro Avenue with his passenger door open  July 11. Shorty pulled into the Sonic north location where according to the report the driver had the “odor of intoxicating beverage coming from his breath and person.” He also admitted that he had “2 tall ones” of “Bud Light.” He blew a .21 during the alcohol breath test, nearly three times the legal limit of .08.

Donovan Sandoval, 30, Gamerco, NM

2nd DWI

MCSO Deputy Lee Johnson pulled over Sandoval on July 17, after Metro Dispatch notified officers to be on the lookout for a Red Suburban, in which two occupants reportedly tried to fight with the tenants, on private property, located on Hassler Valley Road. Johnson followed the vehicle and turned on his emergency lights to pull the vehicle over. Sandoval pulled into the Third Street Tavern Bar and attempted to make his way into the bar, but was told by Johnson and another deputy “to stop and to get on the ground.” Sandoval complied and was placed under arrest. The passenger was arrested for an outstanding warrant. His alcohol breath test revealed a .16 and .14 result – both well above the legal limit of .08.

Wilfred George Yazzie, Jr., Sheep Springs, NM

Witness Scott Chischilly who saw Yazzie allegedly assaulting his wife at the Giant store parking lot in Yahtahey July 20 reported him to police. When MCSO Deputy Shane Bennett arrived at the scene, he noticed Yazzie, wearing a bloodstained white shirt yell at another man wearing a white shirt. When Bennett asked Yazzie why he was bleeding, according to the report he states, “I don’t know, I was fighting with my woman.’” His wife, Arlene Yazzie, who was also intoxicated, said that her husband was pushing and hitting her as he drove. Their three-year-old son was in tow and was later picked up by his grandmother. Yazzie blew a .16 during the alcohol breath test – twice the legal limit. Arlene Yazzie was booked for an outstanding bench warrant and child abuse. In addition to DWI, Yazzie was booked for careless driving and battery on a household member.

Randy G. Ben, 43, Blue Gap, AZ

A citizen that witnessed a car leaving the scene where vehicles were broken into at the parking lot of Safeway on U.S. Route 491 on June 27, followed a Nissan Versa until police could catch up with him. When police approached the vehicle, Ben told the officer that he had been drinking a “4 Loko” and four cans of Bud Light. The three women in the car with him denied any involvement in the car break-ins. Ben refused all field sobriety tests, including the “chemical test” that detects blood alcohol levels. He was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center for aggravated DWI, no driver’s license, open container (24 ounce Budweiser in the center console), and an outstanding warrant from Apache County, Ariz. A separate report was filed for the vehicle break-ins.

Kerley Biggs, 25, Ramah, NM

Biggs, who had an outstanding warrant from the U.S. Marshall’s office, gave this as an excuse for fleeing from GPD Officer Carmelita James in the Walmart parking lot July 3. After his escape, the maroon Chevy was briefly spotted by two officers, but it quickly eluded them. However, by happenstance, James noticed the vehicle on U.S. Route 491 while transporting a prisoner to jail. Sgt. Benny Gaona and Officer Ryan Blackgoat caught up with Biggs in the JC Penny’s parking lot where he was arrested.  When he took the alcohol breath test, he blew three times the legal limit. Biggs was booked for Aggravated DWI, resisting/evading an officer, obstructing an officer, reckless driving, open container and driving without a license and insurance. He was also booked on his U.S. Marshall’s warrant for an outstanding probation violation.

Hyron Gorman, 29, Yahtahey, NM

Gorman reportedly brought some attention upon himself when several individuals noticed him doing donuts in the parking lot of the Magic Carwash on 1335 W. Jefferson July 15. Gorman came close to hitting other vehicles, and to boot, he was buzzed and failed to pass the field sobriety tests given to him by Officer Jeremy Shirley. A chemical test revealed that he had a blood alcohol content of .18 and later .17. He was booked for his first aggravated DWI and for driving without a license.

Judith Homer, 43, Zuni, NM

Homer told State Police Officer James Garylle that she hit Clark Sloan’s truck traveling down 602 was for two reasons: she had no breaks and that she was learning to drive a stick shift. As the officer spoke to Homer, he smelled booze on her breath. Homer denied it, stating that she didn’t have anything to drink that day. She managed to fail field sobriety tests and refused a breath or chemical test and was booked for aggravated DWI, and for driving without a license and for failing to provide proof of auto insurance.