Login

Weekly Crime Blotter

Print

LOCAL PROPRIETOR IN HOT WATER

GALLUP, 1/22

Reports are sketchy at best on what occurred at Steve Coleman’s residence and how things escalated from there. Two of his neighbor’s dogs were reportedly shot at, and one died. Coleman has some past convictions, and as a felon, he’s supposed to stay clear of firearms. Coleman and his wife are the proprietors of Nugget Gallery, and were the target of thieves in recent months.

He’s facing a range of charges: possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon; two counts of conspiracy to commit extreme cruelty to animals; negligent use of a deadly weapon; four counts of criminal damage to property; and multiple counts of receiving stolen property between $500-$1,000. He is currently scheduled for a preliminary examination hearing in Magistrate Court Feb. 3.

SPIT ASSAULT

GALLUP, 1/20

Gallup Police Department Officer Ryan Blackgoat was spat on and cursed at while responding to a call about two men arguing about jewelry at the Hacienda Motel. Myron Gray, 26, and his friend were getting along fine when the officer arrived, but a witness told Blackgoat that they were intoxicated and causing problems at the motel.

The trouble started when Gray got into a vehicle with his friend. When Blackgoat asked him to get out of the vehicle things escalated from there and Gray turned combative. The officer put a “spit mask” on him. He was booked for battery on a police officer and for resisting, evading or obstructing an officer.

AN HONEST MOM

GALLUP, 1/19

Tilford Wilson’s mom notified police, telling them that her son must have “gotten into someone’s place because there is items at her residence that she doesn’t know of,” according to GPD Officer Daniel Brown’s report. Wilson reportedly tried to deny knowing where the assorted construction items, placed in two large plastic bags, came from. He said that he found one of the items under a tree.

The items belong to local contracting company DePauli Engineering and were return to owner Marc DePauli. Wilson, 26, was booked for larceny theft from a motor vehicle.

ATTEMPT TO HIDE PARAPHERNALIA

GALLUP, 1/17

Witness statements led police to discover drug paraphernalia placed in a trashcan, shortly after Saed Al-Assi reportedly ran a stop sign at Williams and Highway 66 and hit another vehicle. GPD Officer Steven Peshlakai stated in his report that witnesses told him that after the accident, Al-Assi made several trips to a trash can at a nearby gas station.

Peshlakai retrieved a syringe, and a spoon with a cotton with burnt brown residue on it from the trash. A K9 officer had detected something suspicious about the vehicle, causing police to seal it for evidence. Al-Assi, 38, was arrested for drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, and running a stop sign.

KNIFE-WIELDING MAN

GALLUP, 1/17

Wal-Mart asset protection workers got a good scare when Jordan Canuto reportedly pulled a knife on them when they confronted him about a possible theft. According to GPD Officer Matthew Ashley’s report, Canuto went to Home Depot next where he pulled his knife on Ashley. The officer tasered him, but that didn’t faze Canuto, and he took off running down one of the aisles.

When Ashley and Officer Tsosie had him cornered, he sat down his weapon. When he became combative again, Tsosie “drive stunned Jordan on the right chest” with his taser. He was arrested for one count of aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon; two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; and two charges of resisting and evading arrest.

CAR THIEF NABBED

GALLUP, 1/15

Probably not a good idea to warm up your vehicle and leave it unattended, but most people do it anyway as it’s unpleasant to sit down in a freezing cold vehicle. Thanks to OnStar and the quick actions of police, the vehicle was located and Victor Bedonie, 30, was arrested at 1706 S. Second St. for unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.