Alert personnel at the Gallup McKinley Adult Detention Center on March 15 resulted in additional charges being filed against a man and a woman already in custody.

Natasha N. (Kiro) Leonard, 29, lists her address as 515 E. Pershing in Gallup. She was observed trying to slip a thin package of what turned out to be heroin under the cell door of another prisoner on March 15.

That same day, an agent of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department busted 47-year old Angel Daniel Roan attempting the same business arrangement. Both were charged with Bringing Contraband into Places of Imprisonment and Trafficking Controlled Substances.

Leonard’s bond was increased to $30,000 on the two...

Clissa M. Martin

Feb. 24, 2:46 pm

Aggravated DWI

According to Gallup Police Department Officer Cynthia Romancito’s report, she observed Martin, 31, back into a car, causing damages, then drive away from the scene. Before she could get too far, Romancito pulled her over and administered field sobriety tests, which didn’t go well for Martin. She was arrested, and when given the two required breath tests, she blew a .28 and .30. The legal limit is .08.

Victoria L. Pete

Feb. 22, 7 pm

Aggravated DWI

According to McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Johnson Lee’s report, Pete, 33, admitted to drinking “just a little bit.” Lee noted that he could smell...

From listening to the rhetoric during this year’s legislative session, you might think that DWI deaths and crashes were up dramatically in recent years.

However today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced that deaths from DWI hit a record low.

In 2015, 122 deaths were attributed to DWI; that’s a new low since New Mexico started tracking DWI fatalities in 2016.

“DWI has been a major problem in our state for a long time. I’m encouraged by this progress. A 36-year low in DWI deaths is a big deal. But our greatest challenge remains: ending drunk driving for good and getting that number to zero,” Martinez said in a statement. “We still have a lot of work to do. Every one of those...

Nabs one liquor establishment for violation

Out of seven liquor establishments visited during an undercover sting March 11, MCSO Lt. Pat Salazar said the Shalimar Lounge & Dancing, 2618 W. Hwy 66, was cited for selling alcohol to an intoxicated individual.

Both the server, Jessica Haley, and the establishment’s owner, which is listed as Itaf Rashid, according the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website, received violations.

The sting was done in cooperation with the state’s Department of Public Safety Special Investigations Division agent Peterson Long. Salazar said the agent faced an uphill battle trying to work a large demographic of McKinley County, in which he became a...