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WEEKLY DWI REPORT

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Frances Shorty

Oct. 11, 6:09 pm

Aggravated DWI (first offense)

Gallup Patrolman Julio Yazzie was on regular patrol along Highway 66 when he saw a car speeding.

He started following the vehicle and as he was getting ready to make a traffic stop, he said he saw the vehicle strike a curb and almost hit a street lamp. When he stopped the vehicle and talked to the driver, Frances Shorty, 23, of Churchrock, she admitted she was intoxicated and had drank a can of beer.

She agreed to do the standard field sobriety tests and while she was doing them, she continually said she only had a few beers before driving. She failed the tests and was arrested for DWI.

Later, she agreed to do a breath alcohol test and posted samples of .25 and .26.


Wendy Talley

Oct. 11, 8:48 pm

Aggravated DWI

Gallup Police Officer Justin Benally said he was dispatched to U.S. Highway 491 to assist another officer who was doing a report of a traffic accident. When he got there, he found Wendy Talley, 23, of Yah-Ta-Hey, inside the vehicle. There was no one else in the vehicle.

Talley told Benally she had rear-ended the vehicle in front of her because it stopped suddenly and she became distracted by her brother who was sitting in the passenger seat. She added that her brother had walked away after the accident.

She admitted she had a little to drink before the accident but agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests. She failed the tests and was arrested for DWI. Benally said he checked her vehicle and found open cans of beer on the floorboard.

When she refused to take a breath alcohol test, she was transported to the county jail and booked.


Wade Armstrong

Dec. 6, 3:00 pm

DWI (Second offense)

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Clayton Etsitty said he was dispatched to an accident at the El Paso Circle in Gallup.

When he got there, he found Wade Armstrong, 28, of Churchrock, in the driver’s seat with all of the doors locked and the engine running. The car had crashed into a metal barrier. Etsitty managed to get a rear window panel open and convinced Armstrong to open the door.

Etsitty said he noticed the smell of intoxicating liquor coming from inside the car. Armstrong admitted to drinking four shots about four hours earlier. He refused to take the standard field sobriety tests and asked to be taken to Gallup Detox.

He was arrested at that time for DWI and he was twice asked if he was willing to take a breath alcohol test and twice refused. Etsitty said he then became uncooperative and had to be fastened in with his seatbelt in the rear of the police unit as he was transported to the county jail.


Jason Beerchman

Nov. 28, 11:39 am

Aggravated DWI (first offense)

McKinley County Sheriff Sgt. Anthony Morales was dispatched to the Family Dollar Store at Yah-Ta-Hey in connection to a report that a fight was taking place. As he was driving there, he was told one of the fighters had gotten into a car and was driving south on U.S. Highway 491.

Morales was also told the car was seen swerving on the road. He came upon it near the four mile marker and saw it cross the center line. He conducted a traffic stop and went to talk to the driver, Jason Beerchman, 37, of Window Rock.

Morales said he could direct signs that Beerchman was intoxicated so he asked if he had anything to drink that day. Beerchman said twice he had nothing to drink.

He agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests and failed. He then agreed to take a breath alcohol test and after encountering problems with the first test, a second test was done and he posted samples of .23, .27 and .28.


Aerik Sanderson

Nov. 28, 5:57 pm

Aggravated DWI (first offense)

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy James Sanchez was dispatched to an address in Yah-Ta-Hey where other officers had stopped a vehicle suspected of having a drunk driver. The driver, Aerik Sanderson, 26, of Vanderwagen, had already been charged with resisting arrest for refusing at first to stop his vehicle.

Sanchez was directed to do the field testing. He said he noticed opened containers of liquor in the vehicle. Sanderson agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests, but he failed and was then charged with DWI.

He agreed to take a breath alcohol test and posted two samples of .17.