The Gallup Police Department recently re-instituted a new way of catching individuals that drink in public. Unless there are warrants or exigent circumstances, the offenders are taken to Gallup Detox or released and then later summonsed into court.

• Davey Cooeyate, 36, of Zuni, was found pouring beer into a cup in the downtown walkway.

• Jefford Baker, 52, of Gallup, was seen drinking behind El Dorado on West 66.

• Alvin Willie, 53, of Gallup, and Felix Nelson, 31, of Vanderwagen, were seen drinking just off of South Second Street.

• Emilena Wilson, 32, of Sanders, Ariz. was found drinking a “clear colored liquid from a vodka bottle” on the curb at Home Depot. She was...

Loren Eric John, 30, Sheep Springs, NM

After striking another vehicle and leaving the scene of the accident, John was pointed out to Officer Justin Benally for driving away with no headlights on. Benally stopped the vehicle and found the driver to be showing signs of intoxication as well as having at least one open container of beer inside his vehicle. John was booked into McKinley County Adult Detention Center April 24, on his second charge of driving while intoxicated among other multiple charges.

Charmaine Montoya, 25, Mentmore, NM

Montoya was charged with her first Driving While Intoxicated after she backed into a marked Gallup Police vehicle April 26. That same vehicle...

Curbing potential tragedies on the roads and highways

Between McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and Gallup Police Officers, over a dozen dangerous people were taken off of the streets of McKinley County. The following arrests are a result of the hard work of patrol officers, saturation patrols and the McKinley County DWI Task Force.

Lieutenant James Maiorano, MCSO Spokesperson, said that DWI is a trend and it is a problem and they will continue to combat it.

“Whether it is [DWI] grant or just patrol, DWI is always going to be a priority for McKinley County until we address it on all sides, the legal side and the educational side,” Maiorano said.

Captain Rick...

Teen molested by Vanderwagon man

A young teenage boy is waiting for the school bus at his usual stop when a 66-year-old man pulls up and offers him a ride. No, this is not the beginning of a camp fire horror story, not even the story of elementary school staff teaching “Stranger Danger.” This is actually the beginning of a horrific incident that occurred to a local high school student April 21, here in Gallup.

The teenager, whose identity will not be released, later told police that he had accepted rides in the past from different individuals and did not think any harm would come to him. However, William Detwiler of Vanderwagon, NM had different plans for this young man.

Detwiler...