The investigative report related to the three disciplined deputies at the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office gives a scathing run down of what happened to Cody Bitsilly the night of Jan. 6 at a party near Hill Avenue and reportedly at the residence of former sheriff’s deputy A.J. Noriega.

The report, done on behalf of McKinley County, was done by Universal Investigation Services of Albuquerque and is dated Feb. 9. The Gallup Sun obtained the report this week. The name of the person who completed the report is Doug Shawn, who is identified in the eight-page document as a chief investigator with the firm.

Two reports about the January incident are now complete. Another report, done by...

Appellant can appeal to District Court

The Gallup City Council unanimously denied a local business owner a request on appeal to set up a used car lot at a location along West Historic Highway 66 and near the heart of downtown.

The action took place during a public hearing at the March 16 city council meeting and after the city’s planning and zoning department denied a similar request.

Gallup Planning and Development Director C.B. Strain introduced the matter to council members, saying Nafiz Abusufiah, the appellant, petitioned the planning and zoning commission Jan. 11 to consider the approval of a conditional use permit to operate an automobile and truck sales business.

The...

Silversmith drops the hammer on Rangel, Noriega

By Bernie Dotson

Sun Correspondent

Two of the three deputies involved in a physical altercation in January are no longer employed with the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, officials said. Three others were suspended.



McKinley County Sheriff Ron Silversmith confirmed in a written statement to the Gallup Sun March 22 that termination letters were prepared for Richard Rangel and A.J. Noriega, but, the one-page letter states, “… pursuant to policy and past practices we have accepted resignation in lieu of termination from each.”



Three other deputies received suspensions without pay from between 30 to 45 days, Silversmith...

By Bernie Dotson

Sun Correspondent


A Gallup man remained jailed March 17 at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond that relates to murder and tampering with evidence charges, according to an arrest warrant.



According to the warrant, Daniel Martinez, 42, who goes by various aliases, such as "'Artemo' or 'Artemio'... did kill Jose Alfredo Morales and did destroy hide or place with the intent to prevent apprehension or prosecution, " the arrest affidavit, in part, reads.



Both crimes are felonies and punishable by life in prison taken together. The matter stems from a Nov. 9 incident in which a relative went to the trailer home of Morales located...