Gallup Police and the McKinley County Sheriff's Office worked a joint agency operation on Sept. 5 that resulted in a combined 23 arrests for warrants and drug charges (fentanyl, meth, cocaine and heroin).

An estimated 1,200 fentanyl pills were taken off the street. Two more suspected dealers were arrested.

McKinley County Sheriff’s deputies are on the lookout for a man who reportedly stole less than $200 from a local Family Dollar.

Deputies were called to the Family Dollar located on Highway 602 south of Vanderwagen around 9 am on Sept. 3. According to Sheriff James Maiorano III, a man walked into the store wearing a ski mask and gloves. He allegedly tried to open one of the business’ cash registers.

A store employee approached the man and asked him what he was doing. That’s when the man reportedly pulled out a firearm.

Maiorano said his deputies were unsure if the firearm was real or fake.

The man allegedly told the store employees to open the cash registers. They opened two...

Featured DWI

Shawnivan John Kee

Aug. 10, 11:18 pm

Aggravated DWI with minor in vehicle

Gallup Police stopped a vehicle that was swerving erratically and eventually arrested the driver, Shawnivan Kee, of Gallup, for DWI with minors in the vehicle.

Officer Ryan Boucher was patrolling in Gallup when he saw a black GMC Sierra driving north on Country Club Drive and turn west onto Philipina Avenue. Shortly afterwards, the vehicle stopped at the intersection of Philipina Avenue and Grandview Drive, where it attempted to turn right before it swerved back onto the road, briefly driving on the sidewalk.

Boucher began to follow the vehicle as it swerved into the oncoming traffic lane. The...

Governor vows continued crackdown on organized crime in New Mexico

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, alongside key members of the Governor’s Organized Crime Commission and law enforcement leadership, unveiled the results of "Operation Disruption," a coordinated effort to combat human trafficking and organized crime in southern New Mexico, on Sept. 3.

The operation, which took place over 12 days in August, resulted in significant disruptions to criminal networks and the rescue of numerous victims. This included:

• 91 people rescued by New Mexico State Police.

• 33 stash houses identified.

• 735 traffic stops conducted.

• 16 arrests made between Aug. 17 and Aug...