NOT JUST MOTEL TOWELS
Gallup, Aug. 4

Security at the Howard Johnson at 2915 W. Hwy. 66 saw a female guest drive a vehicle up to the door of her room and park while two males moved a portable air conditioner from the motel into the car.

When asked what they were doing, the driver took off westbound on Highway 66. There was no further contact with the vehicle.

Twenty-one-year-old Sharon Whitehorn of Albuquerque was the registered guest.

The incident was reported to Gallup Police Officer Iris Martinez

A summons for larceny was filed for Whitehorn in the Gallup Municipal Court. The air conditioner had an estimated value of $475.

BANK ROBBERY BY APP
Gallup, Aug. 5

Digital banking by Zelle proved to be a disaster for a Gallup woman.

A woman who said she had been losing money from her bank account for 14 days at $400 a day between June 23 and July 6, believed three people were responsible. She told Gallup police that she found the withdrawals on her bank statement and that the money had been taken through use of a banking app, known as Zelle.

The money was transferred to the accounts of people identified on the statements as “Joleen Aragon,” “Jones Damon,” and “Blaire Stuwe.” She did not know any of the people named on the statements.

The last withdrawal took place on July 6, but by then the report says at least $10,000 was either taken or pending withdrawal from the account.

The victim was told by Wells Fargo that the account is closed and the investigation has been completed. Her lawyer requested that she get a police report.

THREAT AT THE CARWASH
Gallup, Aug. 7

A man said that all he did was ask for change. But his story differed with another man who called Metro Dispatch and said he’d been threatened with a knife near Best Carwash, 1321 W. Jefferson Ave., and the person with the weapon left the scene heading south.

Gallup Officer Matthew Strandy met the caller, who identified his assailant as Brian Vanwinkle, 41, of Ganado, Ariz.

The caller said Vanwinkle approached him and asked to use his phone. When he refused him, Vanwinkle got upset and started yelling.  He told Vanwinkle to leave.

Instead, Vanwinkle showed him a knife and began making slashing motions and threatening his life.

Vanwinkle left, but Officer Christopher Dawes  found him at the nearby Speedway store, 701 U.S. Hwy. 491, and confirmed that he was carrying a knife in his pocket.

Vanwinkle told Strandy he had only asked the calling party for change, but was told to leave the property. Strandy transported Vanwinkle back to the car wash, where he was identified as the man who threatened the caller.

Strandy transported Vanwinkle to McKinley County Adult Detention Center. Vanwinkle became hostile during the drive and yelled that he had been framed by the staff and he was going to find and kill Strandy. Vanwinkle was booked for aggravated assault.

He was released on his own recognizance by Judge Robert Ionta.