2/29, ANGRY GRANDPA
Steven Bryant became enraged at the Wells Fargo drive thru ATM machine at Rio West Mall when a Chambers, Ariz. couple honked the horn to persuade the man to hurry with his transaction. The other machine was down, and there was reportedly a line.
Bryant, 78, didn’t take too kindly to being rushed, so according to the Gallup Police Department’s report, he pulled out a rifle from the back of his truck and aimed it at the couple who had two children in tow. Bryant was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of child abuse.
2/28, WIFE ASSAULTS HUBBY
When McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Salina Brown arrived at a home, in response to a domestic dispute, the male homeowner “had blood all over his face and chest area,” according to the deputy’s report. Brown could hear a female yelling as well, who turned out to be Samira Shaffer. She reportedly struck her husband with an object.
Both admitted to drinking, but the blood and evidence pointed to Shaffer as being the aggressor during their spat, and she was arrested for aggravated battery against a household member.
2/20, POT SMOKING PARENTS
When GPD Officer Cindy Romancito responded to a call at TravelCenters of America motel, the manager said that the couple was asked to leave the premises as it was obvious from the smell rolling out of the room that the couple was toking on some Marijuana.
According to her report, as Romancito made her way to the hotel room she could smell the aroma of pot in the hallway.
The problem? Chris L. Watchman and Michelle K. Estrada had two children present for their partying. Watchman admitted to possessing pot and handed over his bag of leafy greens and a pipe.
Watchman, 27, was booked for abandonment of children, marijuana possession, prohibited, and drug paraphernalia. Estrada was summoned to court for two counts of child abandonment.
2/18, PUPPY, 2 DOGS MURDERED
Deputy Salina Brown responded to a call in which a family reported that their beloved brown and white 7-month-old Siberian husky puppy was found shot dead near Tracey Lane in the Vanderwagen area. A young woman, who was overcome with emotion, said that she last saw her dog at 11 am that day, and that two of their other dogs were also missing in action.
The family found the puppy’s body in an arroyo northwest of the residence. The woman’s father said that he has seen a neighbor shooting at a dog in the past, and that his neighbors’ often target shoot in the area.
Prior to the deputy leaving, two other dead dogs were located. It’s not clear if those were the two dogs that belonged to the family. If caught and convicted, the shooter faces extreme cruelty to animals and negligent use of a deadly weapon charges.
2/16, OFFICER ASSAULTED
Samantha Sandoval was on a window-breaking rampage when GPD Officer Darius Johnson arrived at First Street and Highway 66 to assist Sgt. Emery Holly and another officer with the arrest.
She was “physically resisting and arguing with officers,” the report states. When Holly first made contact with Sandoval she had kicked him in the groin area. It turns out that she had broke out the windows to her mom’s vehicle.
Sandoval, 29, was arrested and booked for battery upon a peace officer, criminal damage to property, and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, and a bench warrant.
2/16 - 2/27, BURGLARIES/LARCENY
2/27 – Burglary in Vanderwagen. Stolen items worth about $3,480: $3,080 in cash was taken, along with a 14 caret gold pendant Seahorse.
2/22 – Burglary/Larceny in Gallup. Stolen items worth about $730: Replica Stradivarius violin and binocular set.
2/20 – Larceny in Thoreau. Stolen items worth about $550: Stihl weed eater, 1,000 ft. extension cord, and gas can.
2/16 – Home burglary in Vanderwagen. Stolen items worth about $940: two red Craftsman toolboxes, Makita sawzall and drill, Stihl chainsaw, and black Fender guitar.