Victim’s sister looking for answers

It’s been almost two months since Octavia Johnson’s brother Byron Begay was killed, but she’s not giving up on trying to bring his killer to justice.

On May 10, Begay, 32, from Churchrock, was shot outside of the Cliffside Apartments, 602 Dani Dr. When the Gallup Police arrived at the scene, they found Begay with two gunshots to his torso area.

In an interview with the Sun on June 22, Johnson described her brother as someone who was always willing to help others.

“If somebody was needing food or needing something, he would always say ‘oh if you guys need a place to stay you can stay in my room’ or if he knew that somebody was...

A man from Pinedale, N.M., has a long list of charges after a violent fight with police officers in which he bit two of them.

On June 27, around 11:26 am, Gallup Police Officer Matthew Strandy was dispatched to the Ranchito Motel, 1009 W. Coal Ave., when Officer Christopher Dawes called over the radio and requested that he help out with a violent situation.

When Strandy got to the motel, he noticed Dawes and Officer John Gonzales on the ground physically struggling with a man who was later identified as Elliot George. Lt. Mark Spencer was also at the scene, standing outside of a doorway with his taser in hand.

According to Strandy’s report, Spencer initiated his taser while Dawes...

Sanford Begay, 37, was last seen on March 27 in Waterflow, N.M. by his sister.  Begay was heard from on April 12 via text message saying he was in Mississippi.  Begay was with his girlfriend Slyvania Allen, who was found recently at a rehab in Phoenix.

Begay is 6’ 2” and weighs about 210 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

He also has tattoos on both arms and both legs.  He is known to wear earrings as well.

If you’ve seen or know Sanford Begay’s whereabouts call Metro Dispatch at (505) 722-2231 or your local Police Department.

Staff Reports

It took multiple days for police to track down a man and a woman who allegedly robbed a gas station.

On June 27, Gallup Police Officers were dispatched to Speedway North, 701 U.S. Hwy. 491, because of a robbery. A store clerk gave Officer Dominic Molina a descriptions of a male and female suspect, but officers weren’t able to find anyone in their search of the area.

A day later on June 28, officers were called back to the gas station. The gas station’s manager told the officers that the man and woman involved in the previous night’s robbery were walking by the nearby Pizza Hut. The manager said the woman was wearing a blue jacket with black pants and the man was wearing a...