Gallup Police Department received a report of gunshots heard near the Catherine Miller Elementary School at 12:04 pm on Feb. 15.

Gallup Police Officers Norman Bowman and Ryan Blackgoat arrived at the location and had the school go on lockdown. The area the gunshots were heard was from the Navajo Reservation area and Navajo Police were notified.

Navajo Police, New Mexico State Police, and Gallup Police searched the area north of the school for suspects. State Police deployed a helicopter and drone to assist in the search. No contact was made with anyone in the area.  The students and staff of Catherine Miller Elementary School were released on time and unharmed.

Any sex offender who needs to update information on Fridays will need to call the sex offender registration office phone and leave a message with a return phone number. Your call will be returned the following Monday.

The sex offender registration phone number is (505) 722-8514, which is available 24/7. It is your responsibility as a registered sex offender to notify the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office of any changes. Any questions contact: Judith Grijalva McKinley County Sheriff’s Sex Offender Compliance Office, 300 B West Nizhoni Blvd., or call (505) 722-8514.

Major Singh to appear in court May 9

A local man with roots in India remains incarcerated at the McKinley-County Adult Detention Center on a $10,000 cash surety bond with a court date set for May 9, according to district court papers. The court date was set at a Jan. 20 arraignment.

Major Singh, 47, was initially arrested Nov. 20 after a report of a rape at the EconoLodge at 3101 W. Historic Highway 66. Singh’s bond at the time of the arrest was $100,000. Singh works as a cook at the Bombay Restaurant and Buffet, 3404 W. Historic Highway 66.

According to jail records, Singh is charged with criminal sexual penetration in the second degree (force or coercion, personal injury, harm or...

The name of the Native American male found deceased Feb. 2 by BNSF workers has been identified as Darrell Barney, 59, officials said.

Marinda Spencer, public information officer with the Gallup Police Department, released the information last week.

“The case is still under investigation,” Spencer said. “We’re making progress.”

Spencer said an official cause of death has not definitively been determined. She said attempts to contact Barney’s next-of-kin have been made.

How Was The Body Found?

The Gallup Police Department was called to an area near 811 Roundhouse Road at about 10:25 am to investigate the incident, Spencer said. The discovery location is near the Muñoz...