Augustine Benally
Dec. 10, 2:38 am
Aggravated DWI
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Villa was stationed near the 3 Mile Marker of U.S. Highway 491 when he heard a loud bang that sounded like a car collision.
He found a gold Buick Encore parked in the northbound lane of the highway with its hazard lights on. A man was seen getting out of the car. He was identified as Augustine Benally, 32, no address listed.
Villa met Benally and had him wait inside his unit while he went to check for other passengers, finding none. He then spoke with Benally and noticed the smell of alcohol coming from him. Benally said he drank two beers prior to driving and he was coming from Sammy C’s. He said he was headed to Window Rock, Ariz.
Benally declined to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, and when asked about prior DWIs, told Villa he “pleads the fifth.” He did not answer any of Villa’s further questions. Medical staff arrived and checked Benally for injuries and cleared him.
Metro Dispatch informed Villa that Benally had an active bench warrant. After he refused to give a breath sample, Villa transported Benally to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked him for the warrant, aggravated DWI, roadways laned for traffic, and having no license.
Benally was released on his own recognizance by Judge Cynthia Sanders.
Fabian Todacheeny
Dec. 13, 7:37 pm
Aggravated DWI
A yellow Volkswagen bug wound up in a ditch near the coal plant at the 3.5-mile marker of Mentmore Road. McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Villa arrived at the scene and found the vehicle with its engine running.
He met the driver, Fabian Todacheeny, 40, no address listed, who said he was fine when asked. Todacheeny refused to give Villa his license and said he had fallen asleep at the wheel and was traveling from Flagstaff, Ariz. to his home near the Four Corners area.
As he spoke with him, Villa noticed a smell of alcohol coming from Todacheeny. Villa asked Todacheeny if he had any drinks prior to driving, but did not receive an answer. Todacheeny initially agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, but then changed his mind and declined. He also refused to give any breath samples.
Todacheeny was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI and no license.
Eugene Yazzie
Dec. 6, 7:38 am
DWI
A Green Ford pickup truck was seen swerving all over the road driving eastward on Highway 118. The calling party stated the truck nearly ran a school bus off the road.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Galvin Panteah arrived at the 33.5-mile marker and found the suspect vehicle after the calling party flagged him down and directed him to it. Panteah met the driver, Eugene Yazzie, 64, no address listed, and observed signs of intoxication including the smell of alcohol and Yazzie slurring his speech.
Yazzie told Panteah he was traveling from Flagstaff to Ganado, Ariz. When asked for identification and insurance, he was unable to provide any documents. Yazzie admitted to having drunk eight cans of Bud Light prior to driving, and Panteah saw two containers of Importers Peppermint Schnapps in his vehicle.
Panteah issued the Standard Field Sobriety Tests to Yazzie, who performed poorly and was eventually unable to continue for danger of falling over. Yazzie was placed under arrest for DWI and transported to the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office for the breath test.
He posted one sample of .26 and was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center. However, he informed the staff he was diabetic and they said he would need medical clearance to be admitted. Panteah transported Yazzie to Gallup Indian Medical Center, where he was told his blood sugar level was high enough that he would have to be admitted into the hospital.
Yazzie was left at the hospital and told a summons for DWI would be filed for him.
Sequoia Wilson
Sept. 3, 3:30 am
Aggravated DWI
A green Ford Taurus crashed into a street light pole and pushed over a wall near the intersection of South Third Street and West Highway 66. Gallup Police Officer Julio Yazzie was dispatched to the scene and met the sergeant on scene, who directed him to the driver, Sequoia Wilson, 21, of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.
Wilson said she consumed several drinks prior to driving and complained of chest pains, so paramedics were called to evaluate her. However, she became disorderly with EMTs at the scene. Yazzie spoke with Wilson, and saw signs of intoxication. He said he smelled alcohol and that Wilson had bloodshot eyes.
Yazzie helped Wilson out of the vehicle, but she continued to act disorderly toward the medical technicians. She agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, but performed poorly and was placed under arrest.
Wilson agreed to give a breath sample and was transported to Gallup Police Department for the test. She posted samples of .20 and .21. She was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where she once again became disorderly. After being taken to the holding area, she calmed down and was eventually booked for aggravated DWI, careless driving, and damaging public property.
Wilson was released on her own recognizance by Judge Janelle Griego.
Damien Bitsuie
Aug. 23, 1:40 pm
Aggravated DWI
A vehicle crash occurred near 1300 Frontage Rd. and Gallup Police Officer Cindy Romancito was dispatched to the scene. She met a witness who said he was leaving the scene when he saw two vehicles, a white car and blue truck, doing the same. As the white car pulled away, a maroon car came around the corner at a high rate of speed, struck the side of the nearby railing, and then bounced off and collided with the blue truck.
The witness exited his vehicle to check the other drivers at the crash site. He saw the driver of the maroon car try to leave, but the damage to his vehicle made that impossible. The witness took the keys from the maroon car and stayed at the scene until police arrived.
Romancito spoke to the driver of the blue truck, who corroborated the witness’s account, and verified the damage done by the maroon car. Romancito then spoke to the driver of the maroon car who was identified as Damien Bitsuie, 23, of Window Rock, Ariz. Bitsuie had slurred speech, smelled of alcohol, and had difficulty keeping his balance. He had sustained minor injuries from the crash, but agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests.
Bitsuie performed poorly on the tests and was placed under arrest. He agreed to give a breath sample and was transported to the Gallup Police Department for the test, where he posted samples of .23 and .22. He required medical attention, so he was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
After being discharged, Bitsuie was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI, no license, insurance, or registration, and careless driving.
Bitsuie was released on his own recognizance by Judge Janelle Griego.
