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WEEKLY DWI REPORT

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Garrett Begay

May 26, 2:21 am

Aggravated DWI (3rd)

McKinley County Sheriff Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling was given an alert to watch for a light blue Ford Escape that was traveling east on Highway 118 and was swerving all over the road and into incoming traffic lanes.

Houghtaling reached Highway 118 and traveled west before the Ford Escape passed her several minutes later. She turned around to pursue the vehicle as it swerved in traffic lanes on Highway 118 and then south on Highway 400, where it eventually stopped.

Houghtaling made contact with the driver, Garrett Begay, 46, of Ft. Wingate. She asked him if he knew why she was trying to stop him, to which he replied that he was intoxicated. Houghtaling said she could smell a strong odor of alcohol from his breath and that he had bloodshot watery eyes. She also noted there were a number of miniatures near his cup holder.

After running his license, and later finding out it was suspended, Houghtaling had Begay exit his vehicle. She noted he had a hard time keeping his balance, and declined to take the standard field sobriety test, because he said he was drunk and would not be able to pass it.

After waiting for another unit to arrive, Begay was placed in Houghtaling’s unit and transported to McKinley County Sheriff’s Office for a breath test where he posted samples of .27 and .25.

Begay was then transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center for booking.

Albert Johnson

May 25, 8:17 pm

DWI (4th)

McKinley County Sheriff Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling was assigned to locate a silver Ford F150 traveling north on U. S. Route 491. Houghtaling spotted the truck as it passed her near the Cash Stop.  She noticed it was swerving within the traffic lane and came close to crossing the dotted white line in the center. So she stopped it.

The truck pulled over in front of M&R Trading. When she stopped him, the man identified as Albert Johnson, 60, had dried blood on his top lip and Houghtaling could smell liquor. He did not have a driver’s license, but said he had an ID card and then when he checked for it, he said he had been in a fight at Sports Page and his wallet was taken.

He was unable to complete all of the field sobriety tests as instructed.  He was arrested for DWI. On a check of the vehicle, Houghtaling discovered a valid and current registration and an expired insurance document as well as a can of beer with a broken seal.  Two passengers in the truck were transported to a residence in Yatahey. .

Johnson agreed to a breath test.  He gave two breath samples of .18/.18.  He was booked on DWI (4th, felony), roadways laned for traffic, suspended revoked license, evidence of insurance, and open container.

Roger Baker

May 25, 3:04 pm

DWI (5th)

McKinley County Sheriff Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling was assigned to locate a vehicle traveling east on Highway 264 and then south onto Highway 491. A small white Ford Ranger that was swerving all over the road and contained one male occupant wearing a cowboy hat.

Houghtaling  found the vehicle driving south slowly on U. S. Route  491, approach south Chino.  After making contact with the driver, later identified as Roger Baker, 70. Houghtaling noticed his speech was slurred and he was mumbling and she could smell liquor on his breath.  When asked for his license, insurance and registration, he provided an ID card from New Mexico and insurance that had expired in March.  The registration was valid and current.

Houghtaling gave Baker alternative sobriety tests because he had complained of a hip injury.  He had some difficulty with the tests.  He was arrested for DWI and placed in her police unit.  He agreed to a breath test. He gave two breath samples of .29/.29. In addition to being booked on DWI 5th (felony), Baker was charged with roadways laned for traffic, suspended, revoked drivers’ license, and evidence of insurance.

Melvin Curley

May 23, 8:22 pm

AGG DWI (1st)

Deputy Lorenzo A. Guerrero with the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the area of Juniper Ridge in Gamerco to check on a vehicle parked in the roadway.  It was described as a silver Chevy SUV with an Arizona license plate.

Guerrero saw a man enter the vehicle and get into the driver’s seat.  There was a puddle outside the driver’s side door.  It was not raining in the area.  The deputy activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop and a welfare check on the driver.  But the vehicle started moving northbound and did not stop.  It continued into a driveway of a residence.

When stopped and asked if he was all right, the driver, Melvin Curley, 53, who had bloodshot, watery eyes, said he had stopped to urinate. Guerrero smelled alcohol on his breath. Curley agreed to undergo field sobriety tests, but was unable to complete them. He also agreed to a breath test and submitted a breath sample of 0.19g/210L and 0.19g/210L.

Curley was booked on charges of Aggravated DWI (1st), standing stopping parking, and failure to stop for law enforcement.

Jorge De La Rosa

May 22, 10:19 pm

DWI (1st)

McKinley County Sheriff Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling responded to a call about a red pickup that was all over the road on U. S. Route 491, passing T&R Market. Traveling west onto Highway 264, Houghtaling was able to catch up to the vehicle passing Speedy’s.  She pulled in behind the vehicle after it stopped in the right lane of the road.

Houghtaling noticed the male driver appeared to be passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle still running.  Several knocks on the window seemed to wake him.  He unlocked the doors and Sergeant Houghtaling could smell alcohol.

Jorge De La Rosa, 68,  provided an Arizona driver’s license on request. After failing to satisfactorily complete the full set of sobriety tests, De La Rosa was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated.  He agreed to do a breath test. He gave breath samples, .12/.12. He was booked on charges of DWI (1st) and stopped, standing, parked.