During the Memorial Day holiday, the New Mexico State Police participated in the Combined Accident Reduction Effort operation across all roadways within the state.  The goal of the traffic initiative is to increase motorist safety and reduce the number of crashes through a strong law enforcement presence.

Due to the increased volume of traffic during the holiday, NMSP increased its patrol presence during this initiative on roadways throughout all State Police districts on the busiest travel days of the Memorial Day weekend.

The operation resulted in State Police officers issuing over 3,600 traffic citations (250 of which were for lack of seat belt usage) and arresting 32 drunk drivers...

A Gallup man was charged in connection with a shooting incident that occurred during a confrontation over barking dogs.

Harley Davidson Joe, 38, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge on May 22 and was released pending trial.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 11, three individuals were walking their dogs in Gallup when Joe drove past them in a truck. The dogs allegedly began barking at the truck but did not go towards the vehicle. Joe reportedly stopped and exited the vehicle and confronted the group about their dogs’ barking.

An argument ensued, during which Joe reportedly brandished a handgun. One victim saw Joe firing shots toward him...

A Gamerco woman is facing charges after a man under her care died.

On April 25 around 1:30 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jarad Albert responded to a call at 207 Ray Ave. in Gamerco after a man reportedly died. When he arrived at the scene, he met with the man’s father and a woman named Dianna Franco, who said she was a friend of the man.

Albert entered the bedroom in which the man’s body was located and found him lying on the floor near the bed in an upright position, his head rested on a pillow. He was unresponsive.

According to Albert’s report, he witnessed Franco, 55, try to give the man CPR. He took over from Franco, and asked her and the deceased’s father to...

Kari Johnson



STEALING HER SISTER’S IDENTITY

Gallup, May 2

A Phoenix woman is facing charges after she allegedly tried to use her sister’s name when she was arrested.

On May 2, around 2:30 pm, Metro Dispatch told McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Ernesto Giron that a woman wanted to talk to someone in law enforcement about her sister stealing her identity.

Giron called the victim, and she explained that her sister Kari Johnson, had given an officer her information when she was arrested.

The victim said she was in Window Rock, Arizona, when she got word of the situation.

According to his report, Giron drove to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center to meet with...