Login

WEEKLY DWI REPORT

Print

Ben Lynch

April 14, 7:33 pm

6th DWI, Aggravated

As an officer was transporting “subject(s)” he took notice of Lynch’s silver truck that had drove onto the sidewalk at Miyamura Park. The officer called it in, and Gallup Police Department Det. Mark Spencer caught up with Lynch as he passed over the Miyamura bridge.

Once pulled over, Lynch admitted to drinking, according to the report, but refused to take the field sobriety tests. He also refused to give a blood sample. Other officers searched the truck and found open cans of Coors Light. Meanwhile, Spencer had learned that Lynch, 52, was on the DA’s felony DWI list.

Although Lynch refused to give a blood sample, Spencer was able to get a search warrant affidavit, which resulted in the blood draw. Results are pending.

Michael A. Black

March 26, 5:50 pm

Aggravated DWI

Black was pulled over by GPD Sgt. Benny Gaona for driving 68 mph in a 50 mph zone. According to Gaona’s report, Black exhibited all the signs of intoxication – swaying head, bloodshot, glossy eyes, and slurred speech. As he spoke, Gaona could smell booze coming from his breath. Black, 38, admitted to drinking two “99 Apples.”

A roadside breath test revealed a breath alcohol content of .30 and later .25.

Royden A. Haley

March 25, 4:15 pm

4th DWI, Aggravated

A witness called to report that Haley had thrown a passenger out of his Dodge Charger at a local laundry. When GPD Det. Steven Peshlakai caught up with him, Haley was showing the signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking two Bud Lights three to four hours before hitting the road. Officers searching the vehicle found a nearly empty pint of Importers Vodka.

Haley was traveling with two other passengers, who also appeared to be intoxicated, according to the report. Haley, 37, refused to engage in all tests, but Peshlakai was able to secure a search warrant for a blood test.

Brandon Begay

March 25, 9:44 pm

Aggravated DWI

McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Garylle James pulled Begay over for driving with one headlight. According to the report, James could smell booze wafting from the vehicle and that Begay “appeared to be confused.” Begay, 22, admitted to knocking back three shots of whiskey within an hour of being pulled over. He didn’t fare well on the field sobriety tests, and blew a .18 and .16 during the breath tests.

Nathan Smith

March 25, 4:51 pm

Aggravated DWI

MCSO Deputy Nacona Clark was dispatched to Joe Milo’s in reference to a man passed out in a vehicle with his foot on the brake pedal. The signs of intoxication were apparent, and Smith had a half empty bottle of Importers Vodka on the floorboard, next to his feet, according to the report. Smith, 25,  struggled through the field sobriety tests and blew a .34 and .32 during the breath tests.

Noel K. Barney

March 22, 2:08 pm

Aggravated DWI

Barney, 38, was reportedly refused alcohol sales at the Sagebrush bar, and the clerk or bartender there called the police to give a description of his vehicle. When MCSO Deputy Merlin Benally caught up with him, he readily admitted to drinking three to four shots, or a pint of Vodka two hours before he drove to Sagebrush. He failed the field sobriety tests and blew a .16 and 15 during the breath tests.

Aaron Gilbert Nez

March 19, 9:03 pm

3rd DWI, Aggravated

Nez’s passenger alerted police to his vehicle. GPD Officer Eric Lope was advised that the female passenger was knocking on the windows of customers’ vehicles at McDonald’s north. The woman reportedly jumped into Nez’s Pontiac Sunfire and headed north in the American Heritage parking lot. When Lope ran the plate, it was for a different vehicle.

Nez, 33, admitted to knowing about this plate exchange when pulled over, and was showing all the signs of intoxication. There were also two open cans of 12-ounce Bud Light in plain view. Nez failed to pass the field sobriety tests, and blew a .19 and .17 during the breath tests.

Thurston Thomas Gail

March 17, 9:42 pm

Aggravated DWI

A fight between two females led MSCO deputies to Gail. From the report, the stop was mostly routine and Gail, 33, cooperated and engaged in the field sobriety tests. Gail did drop an F-bomb when he realized that he couldn’t win this battle. He blew a .24, twice, during the breath tests.

Johnathon B. Kee

March 16, 7:53 pm

DWI

Kee was pulled over by GPD Sgt. Benny Gaona near Puerco and Highway 66 for driving 48 mph in a 25 mph zone. In the backseat were two children not restrained in the appropriate car seats. According to his report, upon approach, Gaona could smell booze wafting from the vehicle. Gaona noted that there was a 12-pack container of Budweiser beer on the passenger floorboard, along with two open beers, plus two empty cans.

Kee showed the obvious signs of intoxication, and struggled with the sobriety tests and he blew a .18 and .19 during the breath tests.

Ephriam T. Silversmith

March 16, 6:15 pm

Aggravated DWI

Some sloppy driving alerted MCSO Sgt. Eric Jim to Silversmith’s car. Once pulled over, the signs of intoxication were obvious. Silversmith, 29, struggled through the field sobriety tests. Jim also discovered a partially consumed bottle of Smirnoff Vodka in Silversmith’s bag. Silversmith ultimately refused to take the breath tests, earning an aggravated DWI.

Warren Curley

March 13, 4:10 am

Aggravated DWI

A concerned driver alerted police to Curley’s alleged reckless driving, according to MCSO Deputy Johnson Lee’s report. The driver kept on Curley’s tail until Lee caught up with him and pulled him over for his erratic driving. According to Lee’s report, Curley was showing all the signs of intoxication. He admitted to drinking “99 Bananas.”

Curley didn’t fare well on the sobriety tests. During the search of his vehicle, Lee discovered an open container of Importers Vodka; a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana; a pipe with possibly some marijuana residue; a glass pipe for smoking methamphetamine; and a silver grinder with marijuana inside of it.

Curley blew a .17 and .15 during the breath tests.