Tommy Nelson, 52, PO Box Gallup
Aug. 11, 12:10 am
6th DWI
McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeff Marez arrested Nelson on his sixth DWI, making it a felony charge. According to Marez’s report, he was behind Nelson while driving south on Highway 491. Marez watched as the vehicle stopped after the intersection of 491 and Jefferson.
“I first thought the truck was trying to get me to rear end him, but then the truck started to travel southbound again at a slow rate of speed,” Marez said in his report.
Marez stopped the vehicle and saw visible signs of intoxication. After several failed field sobriety tests, he placed Nelson under arrest. According to the report, Nelson had five prior DWI arrests and was on the felony list, per Metro Dispatch.
He was taken for a blood draw and then to ail where he was charged with the felony DWI, revoked driver’s license, open container and stopping, standing or parking in the roadway.
Kevin Beach, 36, Navajo, NM
Aug. 2, 11 pm
Gallup Police Officer Chaz Troncoso was responding to a hit and run when he was told by Metro that the victim was following the suspect vehicle, which had left the scene of the crash in the area of Highway 602 and Park Ave. He caught up with the vehicles and was able to get the vehicle pulled over at Leisure Laundry on North Highway 491.
Beach was in the driver’s seat and showed signs of intoxication, but would not admit to being involved in a vehicle collision, saying that he just got picked up and started driving. The victim of the crash told Troncoso that they had followed the vehicle from the crash site and it did not stop to pick anybody up.
After failing several field sobriety tests, and telling Troncoso, “I’m drunk,” Beach was arrested for DWI. He was taken for a breathalyzer test, results were .19, .18 (over twice the legal limit). He was charged with DWI, vehicle entering highway, driver’s license suspended or revoked, open container in a motor vehicle, duration of evidence (insurance), registration exhibit on demand, and leaving the scene of an accident.