A Gallup man has been charged with alleged child abuse of two teenagers.
On June 29, around 3:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Maurie Rangel was dispatched to the Hillcrest Trailer Park after a woman reported that Robby Yazza had hit his two kids.
When Rangel arrived at the residence he met with the two victims, a teenage boy and girl.
The young man said that Yazza, 44, had begun to argue with him because he believed he was on drugs. The teenager said that he’d never done drugs in his life, and that he was caught off guard by Yazza’s accusation.
The victim said Yazza got into his face and told him to leave and never come back. At some point during the heated argument, Yazza began shoving the teen. He then allegedly proceeded to punch the minor, hitting him over 10 times, according to the police report.
That’s when the young woman decided to get involved in an attempt to defend her brother. She tried to get in between the two men, but Yazza shoved her and she fell to the ground.
According to Rangel’s report, the young woman had a cut on her left hand, and the young man had a scratch on his chest. The right side of his face was also swollen from where Yazza allegedly punched him.
The young man admitted to punching Yazza as well.
After Rangel spoke to the victims, he and Officer Ryan Boucher headed to Yazza’s house to get his side of the story. When he arrived at the door, Yazza asked the officers why they were there.
Rangel explained the situation and gave Yazza the opportunity to tell his side of the story. Instead, Yazza told the officers “I have no kids.”
Yazza was charged with two counts of child abuse. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 10 at McKinley County Magistrate Court.
Staff Reports
