An off-duty Gallup Police Officer was in the area of Cliffside Apartments at 602 Dani Dr. during the late evening of Aug. 28 when he witnessed two men fighting.  The off-duty officer went to intervene when one of the men dressed in black pointed a handgun at him.

The officer reportedly retreated to his vehicle and told his wife to call Metro Dispatch for help.  He then heard a single gunshot.  The shooter was seen getting into an older model red car. The vehicle left the scee heading westbound on Dani Drive.

The other male involved in the fight was a 33 year old victim who suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

At press time, the suspect was...

A woman from Tsaile, AZ. was arrested after she reportedly stabbed a man at a Gallup grocery store.

Gallup Police were dispatched to the Safeway store  at 980 U.S. Hwy. 491 around 3:40 pm on Aug. 26 after a woman who was identified as Shelia James allegedly stabbed a 44-year-old man in the stomach. The parties who called the incident in said the attack was unprovoked.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is reportedly in stable condition.

James, 41, was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery (great bodily harm), and tampering with evidence.

Her preliminary examination is set for Sept. 11.

Staff Reports

TUCSON, Ariz. — A man is facing multiple fraud charges after he allegedly tricked multiple Arizona homeowners into paying for solar power electrical systems that he would then never install.

On Aug. 14, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Daniel Jarrett Ridlinghafer, 37, of Marana, AZ, for bank fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud.

The indictment alleges that Ridlinghafer owned and operated Psalm 112 LLC, d.b.a. Tucson Solar Pros, a solar installation company based in Tucson. Beginning in January 2021 and continuing through July 7, 2022, Ridlinghafer engaged in a scheme to defraud at least 25 homeowners and two federally insured credit unions...

METH OUTSIDE RESTAURANT

Gallup, Aug. 21

Law enforcement officers working with Adult Probation and Parole conducted a warrant roundup in Gallup, which led to the arrest of Michael Ray Burke, 31, at the Applebee’s located at 1650 W. Maloney Ave. Burke reportedly had outstanding warrants from New Mexico Probation and Parole as well as Gallup Municipal Court.

While officers searched Burke’s person, they discovered a small baggie containing a glass shard-like substance in his front right pocket. The substance was suspected to be methamphetamine, and it was confirmed by a field test at the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Officers also allegedly found a glass bubble pipe with...