A man tried using a forged check at a car dealership and was eventually arrested for forgery and possession of a controlled substance.
On Feb. 1 around 7:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Gilbert Gonzales was dispatched to Duke City Auto, 1512 E. Hwy. 66, when a man, who was later identified as Arthur Diaz, tried to cash a forged check.
When Gonzales met with the car dealership’s owner, he pointed out Diaz, 46, and handed Gonzales a check and a driver’s license that belonged to Diaz. The check was a State of New Mexico Taxation and Revenue check marked “Supplemental 2022 income tax rebate.”
It was made out to Diaz for $600. In his report Gonzales said the forged check was poor quality and that the authorized signer had a blurry printed signature. The seal was also blurry.
Gonzales asked Diaz where he got the check, and he said he received the check for work he had done, but he would not give Gonzales a name. He said he worked on a burnt down residence and received the check as payment. The only name he would give was for a guy named “Wolf,” although he said he didn’t know the guy’s real name.
The car dealership owner also told police that Diaz had come in before and tried to cash a similar check, but the business name and cash amount were different, and showed them pictures of the older check. Diaz denied this claim. The store owner said he had let it slide the first time, but now that Diaz was back for a second time he had decided to call the police.
Gonzales arrested Diaz, and as he was searching him he found a yellow flask in his pocket. Gonzales reported that he heard what sounded like small items moving around in the flask, and when he opened it he found two fentanyl pills inside.
Diaz was charged with forgery and possession of a controlled substance. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15.
Staff Reports
