GAS STATION ROBBERY

Tse Bonito, Sept. 22

A late-night call to McKinley County Sheriff’s Office led to a hunt for a suspected robber caught on security footage.

Deputy Frank Villa Jr. was dispatched to the Speedway store in Tse Bonito, 1579 Hwy. 264, after a man called and said he saw a robbery. When Villa arrived, he met with Navajo Nation Police Department Officers who were searching for the suspect, described as wearing all black.

Villa watched the video taken by the caller on his phone and saw the suspect wearing a black jacket with fur on the hood and black pants. He also wore black shoes with white soles and a white shirt under his jacket.

While Deputy Nocona Clark and Sgt. Garylle James searched the surrounding area, Villa checked the store. The right front door had been shattered and glass shards were scattered inside and outside the building. Villa noted several items on the floor as well as a rock, which he suspected was how the robber entered the building.

The manager of the store arrived on the scene and showed Villa the security camera footage. The suspect made multiple trips into the store to grab several nicotine-related items.

While reviewing the footage, Villa was advised by James that he and Clark had detained a man who matched the description of the suspect. Villa met with the man, Taylor Etsitty, 25, of Churchrock.

Etsitty was wearing black pants and shoes with white soles, but he did not have a jacket on. He said he was sleeping in a nearby ditch and didn’t do anything. He asked to see the footage, which Villa showed him. One camera angle showed the suspect looking up at the camera and showing his face, and Villa confirmed it was Etsitty.

Clark gathered the evidence on scene while James took photos of the suspect’s shoe tracks and clothing. Villa transported Etsitty to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked him for commercial burglary. Etsitty was also found to have an active bench warrant.