UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS
Thoreau, Aug. 1
A man who complained he was assaulted by a man selling sno-cones, may have been mistaken.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerald Watchman was dispatched to the Speedway station at 92 Hwy. 371 in reference to a male who was assaulted.
Watchman met the apparent victim, Jefferson Jim, 64, of Thoreau who told him a man parked across the highway selling sno-cones and tamales had attacked him and pushed him down. Jim did have a mark on his cheek that lined up with an injury, and he stated no one was willing to help when he walked into the store to call law enforcement.
Watchman spoke with the man Jim said attacked him, Dennis James Jr., 39, of Thoreau, who said he had not approached or touched Jim. James said he had been helping a customer when a white Chevrolet pickup had approached Jim and four unknown males got into an argument with him. The report did not specify if James witnessed any assault by the males Jim argued with.
Watchman stated he has met with Jim previously and that he was intoxicated during this meeting. He transported Jim to Gallup Detox after he posted a sample of .20. Watchman concluded Jim had been assaulted, but not by James.
No other witnesses came forward at the scene, and no other information is available.
MOTEL ROBBERY
Gallup, July 11
A Gallup man is wanted for taking over $1,300 from a local business.
Gallup Patrolman Christopher Dawes was dispatched to America’s Best Value Inn at 2003 W. Hwy. 66. He met with the caller, one of the front desk clerks, who said he had been speaking with a person he recognized as Michael Anderson, 19, of Gallup.
The caller stated Anderson spoke with him about selling a pack of soda and then left afterward. While the clerk helped a guest in the hallway away from the front desk, Anderson returned and broke into the cash register.
An estimated $1,379 was stolen from the register, which the caller commented was old. Dawes did review security footage of the incident and confirmed his accounts.
A summons was filed for Anderson. No updates were available.
WINDOW VANDAL
Gallup, July 11
Gallup Patrolman Christopher Dawes was dispatched to Cedar Crest Apartments, 220 E. Nizhoni Blvd., in reference to a suspect breaking a window on the premises.
He arrived and met with the callers, one of whom said it was her cousin, Cherissa Smith, 36, of Gallup, who had broken the window. Smith had allegedly been banging on the door of their residence before breaking one of the windows and leaving the area.
Smith has been at Sports Page Bar the night before with her cousin, according to the report, and then her cousin had shown up the next morning banging on her door and window. The other caller stated the cousin was arguing with another person outside and then asked them for her keys, which they did not have. The second caller said the cousin had appeared drunk during the confrontation.
After the second caller locked the door on her, Smith began banging on the door repeatedly and then broke the window. Gallup Police officers patrolled the area but did not find Smith.
A summons was filed. No other updates were available.
RESISTING FOUR OFFICERS
Gallup, July 11
Gallup Police officers were dispatched to Cedar Hills Apartments, 1710 Elm Cir., in reference to a caller stating a person was threatening their safety.
Officer Matthew Strandy was advised the suspect was Sheldon Ray Jones, 26, of Aneth, Utah, who also had two warrants for his arrest. Jones had returned to the premises and threatened the calling party.
Strandy and Officer Daniel Brown arrived at the scene and were told Jones was behind the building. Jones initially answered their questions confirming his identity, but once the officers said he had two warrants for his arrest, Jones became aggressive. He took a fighting stance and began cursing at the officers. He told them he would not go with them and they would have to shoot him.
Officers Michael Eley and Patrick Largo arrived on scene and assisted with the arrest as Jones continued to refuse. The officers were able to restrain Jones and finally place him into Strandy’s unit. Paramedics were called after Jones stated he was in pain, and he was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center where he received a medical clearance.
Jones was then transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center where he was booked on the warrants and four charges of resisting arrest.
STATION TRESPASSER
Gallup, June 17
A woman was placed under arrest for trespassing after she refused to leave a local gas station.
Gallup Officer Matthew Strandy was dispatched to the Speedway station at 1223 Hwy. 66 after the call came into Metro Dispatch. An attendant at the station said she asked Sharon Tolino, 34, of Yahtahey, to leave the premises, but she refused. After being told the trespass order was valid by Dispatch, Strandy placed Tolino under arrest.
Tolino was transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked on trespassing charges.
BREAKING IN TO SLEEP
Gallup, March 14
A man discovered sleeping inside a vehicle at Seventh Street and Aztec Avenue woke up to meet Gallup Patrolman Victor Madrid.
Madrid had been called out on a vehicle break-in at a car lot.
Madrid spoke with the lot owner, who confirmed this was not the first such incident. He then met the suspect, J.C. Curley, 18, who stated he was in the car because he had nowhere else to go. Curley admitted he had cut into a fence on the premises and crawled underneath it.
The lot owner stated he had seen Curley trying to enter the lot four days prior. After receiving a call that someone was on the lot, he traveled to the scene and saw Curley flee once he arrived. He added that Curley did not have permission to be on the lot and was trespassing.
The back of the vehicle was filled with trash and the seats were stained. The estimated damage to the fence and the vehicle came to about $1000.
Curley was placed under arrest for criminal damage and trespassing, and he was transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked.