Larit Benally
Sept. 3, 3:46 am
Aggravated DWI
A vehicle was parked in the middle of the road near the Coca-Cola Plant, 154 Mentmore Road, with the driver apparently unconscious at the wheel.
Gallup Officer Dominic Molina arrived at the scene and found a white pickup truck running with two males asleep inside. There was an open box of Bud Light in the back with numerous cans strewn around inside and in the back of the truck.
Another officer arrived and the two opened the locked truck and turned it off. Molina then woke the driver, Larit Benally, 37, of Mentmore, who appeared to be intoxicated and had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and smelled of alcohol.
Benally exited the vehicle and admitted to consuming an unspecified number of drinks prior to driving. He did not respond when asked to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, so his actions were taken as a refusal and he was placed under arrest.
The passenger was also intoxicated and became disorderly when officers questioned him. Molina saw a .45 caliber handgun inside the truck, which he removed for security. The passenger was charged with negligent use of a firearm.
Since he refused to give a breath sample, Molina transported Benally to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked him for aggravated DWI, negligent use of a firearm, and having no license.
Benally was released on his own recognizance by Judge Cynthia Sanders.
Cheyenne Delgarito
Sept. 2, 12:56 pm
Aggravated DWI
A female driver turned her vehicle into the lot of Clay Fultz Insurance, 201 E. Aztec Ave., and remained there for several minutes before an employee noticed she had passed out.
Gallup Officer Maria Olivares was dispatched to the scene to conduct a welfare check. She noticed the vehicle was running and placed in park when she arrived. Inside there were numerous cans of Budweiser and the driver did not respond to her questions.
Olivares turned the vehicle off and woke the driver, Cheyenne Delgarito, 28, of Wingate. When Delgarito did awaken, she admitted to drinking “a lot” of unspecified alcohol prior to driving and did not give her name or birthdate when asked. She also tried to put the vehicle into drive, but did not realize the keys had been taken.
When she stepped out of the vehicle, Delgarito showed signs of intoxication including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, the smell of alcohol and difficulty standing. She refused to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests or to provide a breath sample.
Delgarito was placed under arrest. However, when Olivares ran the license plate of the vehicle she had been driving through Metro Dispatch, she was advised it had been stolen out of Roswell. There was no insurance or registration information in the car.
Olivares transported Delgarito to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked her for aggravated DWI, having no license, consuming alcohol in a vehicle, no insurance or registration, and improper use of a registration.
Delgarito posted $2,000 cash or surety bond.
Irene Yazzie
Sept. 2, 8:03 am
DWI
A caller reported a suspicious vehicle near the 500 block of Baker Avenue to Metro Dispatch. Gallup Officer Vincent Thompson was dispatched to the area.
He saw a silver Hyundai matching the caller’s description parked near the intersection of Milda Avenue and Lopez Place and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Irene Yazzie, 60, of Gallup, rolled down the window as Thompson approached.
Yazzie showed signs of intoxication including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. She also smelled of alcohol and told Thompson she didn’t have any identification or insurance information on her. After admitting she consumed one can of Camo, she agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, but performed poorly.
Thompson placed Yazzie under arrest. He was advised by Metro Dispatch she had three prior charges and thus would need a blood draw. He obtained authorization for the draw and transported her to Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services.
Once finished Thompson transported Yazzie to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked her for DWI, roadways laned for traffic, consuming alcohol in a vehicle, and no license, insurance, or registration.
Yazzie was released on her own recognizance by Judge Robert Ionta.
Coby Tom
Aug. 24, 2:10 am
DWI
A male was seen passed out at the wheel of a car parked outside Dickey’s Barbecue, 3900 E. Hwy. 66. Gallup Police Officer Michael Eley was dispatched to the restaurant.
Eley arrived at the scene and met with other officers who had arrived first and placed vehicle spikes under the front and rear tires in case the driver tried to leave the scene. Metro Dispatch advised Eley that the same black Chevrolet was seen at El Rancho earlier that evening. It was parked and running.
The officers attempted to wake the driver, identified as Coby Tom, 28, of Iyanbito, while also trying to open the locked car. Tom did begin to stir at Eley’s commands and then woke up, turned off the vehicle, and got out.
Tom did not show any noted signs of intoxication in the report, but he did agree to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests. He performed poorly on the tests and was placed under arrest.
He agreed to give a breath sample and was transported to Gallup Police Department for the test, where he posted two samples of .15. Tom was then transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for DWI and careless driving.
Tom was released on his own recognizance by Judge Janelle Griego.