A man is facing charges after he reportedly broke into another man’s car.
On Nov. 2, around 10:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Gilbert Gonzales was dispatched to 3210 Grey Hill Cir. after a man named Dominic Nez allegedly broke into a vehicle.
According to his report, Gonzales reportedly found the victim holding Nez, 18, down on the ground when he arrived at the scene. A screwdriver was reportedly lying next to Nez on the ground.
Gonzales was able to take control of the situation and placed Nez in the back of his patrol car. Nez willingly gave the officer his name but said he would talk to him later.
So instead of talking to the alleged suspect, Gonzales turned to the victim, who said he’d arrived at his house and noticed someone sitting in his 2020 black Cheverloet Tahoe. He initially thought it was his daughter, but when he approached the vehicle, He realized it was a man he didn’t know.
Nez reportedly got out of the vehicle and took off running. The victim chased after him, but as he got close Nez swung a screwdriver at him, trying to stab him.
The man said he defended himself and that he was able to detain Nez. He checked the vehicle and noticed that a bag had been emptied out onto the driver’s seat. According to the report, the man wasn’t sure if anything had been taken from the vehicle.
The victim initially said the SUV had been unlocked, but he later called police and said that he believed the SUV had been broken into based on some marks on the driver’s door.
Nez was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and burglary of a vehicle. His preliminary examination is scheduled for Nov. 15.
