Gallup Police Department officers were called to the Goodwill Store located at 1820 E. Hwy 66 at about 10 am Dec. 19, in reference to a container with what appeared to be grenades found near the business, GPD Capt. Marinda Spencer said.

Officers immediately evacuated the business and surrounding stores. No one was injured in this incident.

The initial investigation revealed that among items donated to Goodwill was a toolbox, Spencer stated in a Dec. 19 release.

“The employee who works at the receiving point took the items and began to inventory the donated items,” she wrote. “When he opened the toolbox he saw what appeared to be a grenade."

Police officers accessed the...

Staff Reports

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas secured the preventative detention of Mario Morales, a man accused of human trafficking, kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration, false imprisonment and more Dec. 14.

The New Mexico Office of the Attorney General successfully extradited Morales, following his arrest in Arizona last month. Following the NMOAG’s preventative detention motion in November, Morales was indicted on more 15 charges, 14 of them felonies.

“Serial offenders who harm New Mexicans need to be behind bars, if they pose a risk to our community,” Balderas said. “We are prepared to seek justice for the family who has been harmed.”

In addition to...

By Cody Begaye

Sun Correspondent




Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., hosted a press call Dec. 13 to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

VAWA was enacted in 1994 under then-President Bill Clinton to fund prosecution of violent crimes against women, impose automatic, mandatory restitution on those convicted and allow civil redress in un-prosecuted cases.

The Act also established the Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice.

VAWA was previously reauthorized in 2000, 2005 and 2013 — the most recent expansion added Native Americans and same-sex couples, along with increased protection for victims of sex trafficking.

Heinrich...