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Friday, Mar 29th

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How did an alleged killer fall through the cracks?

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Among questions following the gruesome rape and murder last week of an Albuquerque girl that sent shockwaves across New Mexico is how one of the alleged perpetrators was present to commit the violence in the first place.

Fabian Gonzales, one of three being charged in the murder of 10-year-old Victoria Martens, was...

GFD: Motel fire began in trashcan

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Road Runner Motel shut down

The cause of a fire that shut down a local motel Aug. 11 can be traced to a trashcan inside one of the rooms, officials said.

Gallup Deputy Fire Chief Jesus Morales said the fire began in a trashcan in Room 215 of the Road Runner Motel.

“We’re still looking into what was in the trashcan that ignited the fire,” Morales said. “The investigation is not yet closed.”

Gallup police and firefighters responded to the blaze, which tore through the upper deck of the two-story structure. The south portion of the upper deck was burned away, along with parts of the attic and a section of the second floor.

Gallup fire and police spokespersons said a call...

Wanted: GPD looking for Darrell Desiderio

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Suspect wanted in downtown stabbing

Gallup police are on the lookout for Darrell Desiderio Sr. of Twin Lakes, who is wanted for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Gallup Police Department Capt. Marinda Spencer said Desiderio, 39, is a suspect in a downtown stabbing that sent Andrew Garcia to a local hospital last week.

“An arrest warrant has been issued for [Desiderio],” Spencer said. “The investigation remains open.”

The incident occurred Aug. 18 near Camille’s Sidewalk Café at 306 S. Second St.

GPD Lt. Rosanne Morrissette said Desiderio allegedly stabbed Garcia up to four times. Garcia was in stable condition as of Aug. 22.

According to an eyewitness account...

Official: Bomb threats at McKinley County Courthouse were false alarms

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505 phone number under investigation

With two bomb threats in the past few weeks, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office dropped a proverbial bomb of its own Aug. 23, putting the word out that pranks and empty threats will absolutely not be tolerated.

“This is a serious matter,” MCSO Lt. Pat Salazar said in a news briefing this week on bomb threats. “It’s not something that anybody should be doing. It is a crime.”

Salazar said sheriff’s deputies responded to a threat Aug. 22 at the McKinley County Courthouse at 207 W. Hill Ave. He said deputies canvassed a wide area around the building and then some, and found nothing.

“We have reason to believe that this is the work of...

‘100 Days and Nights of Summer’ in Gallup

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The Gallup Police Department is participating in the 100 Days and Nights of Summer Campaign, according to GPD Capt. Marinda Spencer. The campaign is an enforcement program that encourages local law-enforcement agencies to conduct checkpoints and saturation patrols during the summer months. The 100 Days campaign ends Sept. 30.

According to safernm.org, “in 2007, the inaugural year of the campaign, traffic fatalities for June, July, and August decreased by 18 percent, compared to the same period in 2006.”

Spencer said 159 vehicles were stopped on Aug. 19, with 44 tickets written and three arrests, none of which were DWI-related.

Another saturation point is set for Aug. 27.

By Bernie...

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