NEW OUTFIT
Gallup, Sept. 4

A loss prevention officer at Walmart, 1650 W. Maloney Ave., caught a juvenile putting several items into a backpack that did not belong to her.

Gallup Officer Matthew Strandy met the loss prevention officer and was told the juvenile, listed only as “L” in the report, was not responding to questions. Both “L’s” older sister and grandmother had also been at the store and were looking for her.

The total cost for the items “L” attempted to take, two pairs of pants, a T-shirt, blue socks and a backpack, totaled to just under $59.

“L” was faced with charges of shoplifting as well as a 24-hour ban from the business.

TROLLING FOR DOLLARS
Gallup, Sept. 2

A Navajo, N.M. man informed Gallup Police he had been receiving threatening phone calls.

In June 2020 he had received a Facebook friend request from a “Marine” named “Richard Phillip Valencia.” After he accepted the request, Valencia began sending messages and soon asked him for $300 for various expenses. The man did not agree at first, but after further messages came from Valencia, he sent him the money.

The victim did not hear from “Valencia” again until Aug. 23. At that time he said he was going to repay the money he was sent. The information “Valencia” gave the victim so he could get the money back took him to an email address where he was told he would have to pay $3,850 to receive what “Valencia” was sending. When he asked Valencia about it, he was told to sell his car to cover the cost and he would send $800,000 afterwards.

“Valencia” then told the victim if he were to lose the package, that he knows where he lives and that he was willing to kill. The victim stopped messaging “Valencia,” but he continued to receive his messages.

A report was filed with Gallup Police, which did not provide any further information about the suspect.

DISORDERLY AND INTOXICATED
Gallup, Sept. 2

A Public Service Officer sent out a “204” for a disorderly person near the intersection of Sixth and Princeton Avenues. Gallup Police Officer Aaron Marquez was dispatched to the scene.

Marquez met the PSO and the suspect, Ferlandon Ashley, 33, of Sanders, Ariz. The officer told Marquez he went to the scene after receiving a report of an intoxicated person.

He met Ashley and after speaking with him determined he was not fit to care for himself.

But when he attempted to place him under arrest, Ashley tried to flee and the two engaged in a struggle. Ashley sustained minor injuries from being taken to the ground by the officer, who was not injured.

Medical staff arrived and while they were tending to Ashley, he became disorderly and upset. At one point he made a threat.

Ashley was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment. The report stated he would be summonsed into court for resisting arrest.