DON’T FORGET TO LOCK THE CAR
Gallup, Aug. 12

A man couldn’t remember if he locked his car when he went into the Safeway at 980 U.S. Hwy. 491 for 45 minutes. He knew he left his windows down about 6 inches.

When he got back he knew his shaving lotion was gone. His hydrocodone bottle was still there. But it was empty. Eighty capsules were missing.

There were no signs of forced entry. No other information is available.

MECHANIC OR THIEF?
Gallup, Aug. 12

A Flagstaff, Ariz. woman let a man she believed to be a mechanic, take her car to perform mechanical work.

She said he never brought it back.

She said the black 2009 Buick Lucerne with tinted windows and a Lions sticker on the back window was taken from the Fairfield Inn at 3510 E. Hwy. 66 on Aug. 11. She said identifying features of the car include major dents in the rear bumper, a missing passenger side mirror, and a half of a front bumper.

The woman described the mechanic as a male Native American, about 5’ 4” tall and about 140 pounds.

Gallup Police Officer Elijah Bowman entered the vehicle into the National Crime Information Center as stolen.

WILD CHILD CAR CHASE
Gallup, Aug. 11

A woman with bench warrants out of McKinley County District Court and McKinley Magistrate Court for armed robbery became the focus of a car chase by Gallup Police Officer Steven Collins when he was told the suspect appeared to be driving a stolen vehicle. Amber Yazzie, 26, of Gamerco was spotted in a silver 2020 Nissan Altima.

Police officers followed the car to the north side of Gallup near Walmart and Rio West Mall, then back south over Munoz Overpass onto Highway 66, and into the Chihuahuita housing area. The Altima drove through the neighborhood toward a dead-end near Seventh Street and Logan Avenue. That’s where two of the passengers jumped out of the car. The car crashed off an embankment.

Yazzie also got out of the Nissan and fled. Officers were able to locate and detain both passengers, one of whom was identified as Burtrina James, 33, of Lukachukai, Ariz. James had a traffic warrant out of McKinley County Magistrate Court.

Yazzie and James were both charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing from officers and resisting arrest, respectively. Both suspects were transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center for clearance. Yazzie refused treatment and was taken to the county jail for booking.

Yazzie was charged with aggravated fleeing, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, and receiving stolen vehicles.

Yazzie remains in custody for a district bench warrant.

WHO’S GOT THE TRUCK?
Gallup, Aug. 10

A Gallup man reported his truck missing the day after he said he let his son use it to drive to work. He said his son was thrown out of the truck. However, a report by Gallup Police said the son was taken to detox by a public service officer on that day and released on the following day (Aug. 10.).

The caller’s daughter-in-law said she located the truck on Aug 10 at the 26 on ramp on the east side of Gallup. She followed it to the nearby Speedway station and saw four people in the cab.

She then followed it to Sundance and identified the driver, who ran into the bushes.

A woman also exited the truck and became aggressive. The daughter-in-law said the woman got behind the wheel of the truck and drove away.

There were two jacks, a tire chain and a tow hitch adapter in the truck. It was entered into the National Crime Information Center as stolen.

CAR WASH VALET
Gallup, Aug. 10

A Ramah woman was at the Premier Car Wash at 451 Boardman Dr. reaching into the trunk of her car to get floor mats out when the vehicle started to move. It happened between 4 pm and 5 pm.

She did not see who was behind the wheel and did not run after the vehicle, but noticed it turned westbound on Aztec Avenue from Arnold Street.

She had the key fob with her. But her birth certificate was inside the car and the car had no GPS system. It is a 4-door red 2020 Nissan Altima with tinted windows and New Mexico Chile plates.

No other information is available.