TAKING A NAP
Gallup, Aug. 13
A man tried to take a nap in a car, but he didn’t have permission from the car’s owner and had to get in by throwing a rock at the car’s window.
On Aug. 13, around 5 pm, Gallup Police Officer Lionel Desiderio was dispatched to the Rex Museum, 301 W. Hwy. 66, when a man allegedly broke into a gray Dodge Journey.
When Desiderio arrived at the scene, he met with the victim and noticed that her car’s rear window was shattered. According to his report, Desiderio also noticed that there was a man, who was later identified as Christopher Begay, laying in the backseat of the car.
Desiderio asked Begay, 30, to get out of the car, but he refused. Sgt. Matthew Gray arrived at the scene, and he told Begay that if he didn’t get out of the car they would sic a K-9 on him. Hearing this, Begay got out of the vehicle, and the officers detained him.
Begay explained that his friend, a Mr. Montoya, had given him permission to sleep inside the car.
The owner of the car told the officers that she had not given Begay permission to sleep in her car. She said she didn’t know Begay.
A turquoise bracelet, a knife, and some headphones were found on Begay, and the victim said the items belonged to her.
A witness told Desiderio that she had seen Begay break the Journey’s window with a rock and climb inside the car. She said she had video of the incident, and said she would send it to Desiderio.
Desiderio allegedly found a rock near the vehicle.
Metro Dispatch informed Desiderio that Begay had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, so he was arrested for the warrant, for burglarizing a vehicle, and criminal damage to property (less than $1,000). His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31.
WELFARE CHECK GONE WRONG
Gallup, Aug. 7
What was supposed to just be a welfare check ended up with one man facing charges of possession of a controlled substance.
On Aug. 7, around 6:45 pm, Gallup Police Officer Daniel Brown was dispatched to the Speedway at 1223 E. Hwy. 66 to help out Sgt. Terrance Peyketewa, who was conducting a welfare check on some people who were inside a black Jaguar parked at the pumps. Metro Dispatch informed the officers that one of the car’s occupants, Kevin Arias, had a warrant out for his arrest.
When Brown arrived at the scene, Arias, 31, was stepping out of the vehicle. Brown arrested him for the warrant, and as he was searching him, he found a small metal canister in his front left pant pocket. According to Brown’s report, the canister had fentanyl in it.
Arias was charged with possession of a controlled substance. His preliminary hearing was on Aug. 17.
Staff Reports