It isn’t known whether a Churchrock man was high or drunk when he decided to run around Gallup shirtless and get into a fight with another man.

On July 31, around 8:30 pm, Gallup Police Officers Matthew Strandy and Anthony Morales were dispatched to the Hooghan Hozho Apartments, 201 E. Coal Ave., when multiple calls in to Metro Dispatch reported that two men were fighting outside the apartments.

When the officers arrived at the scene, a man pointed out another man who was wearing no shirt and blue jeans out to them. The man said that the man, who was later identified as Cordell Chiquito, had punched him in the face several times.

According to Strandy’s report, both officers told Chiquito, 28, to stop walking away from them, but the man wouldn’t listen. He took off running northbound down Strong Drive, then cut eastbound through an alley and ended up on Coal Avenue. Morales was eventually able to cut Chiquito off, and he tackled him to the ground.

When Strandy caught up to the two men, Chiquito had his left hand under his body, and he was ignoring Morales’s request to show his hands. The two officers were finally able to handcuff Chiquito and stand him back up.

According to Strandy’s report, Chiquito kept swearing at the officers, saying that he hadn’t done anything, and threatening them.

Chiquito kept trying to throw himself to the ground, and at one point he threw himself around with so much force with his right hand clasped to Strandy’s left wrist that Strandy’s Apple Watch’s wristband broke.

The officers took Chiquito back to the apartment complex, where they met with the victim and his girlfriend, who explained that she’d been driving her boyfriend home when Chiquito began throwing rocks at their car at the intersection of Coal Avenue and South Puerco.

According to the victim, he got out of the car and told Chiquito to stop. That’s when Chiquito started threatening the victim and his girlfriend.

The victim explained that Chiquito started walking eastbound, but then he came up from behind them through the alley and started fighting with him. The victim said Chiquito rushed toward him and began punching him on the left side of his face.

According to Strandy’s report, he did notice some swelling  and redness on the left side of the victim’s face. The victim said Chiquito punched him about 10 times.

Initially Chiquito would not give the officers his name, but they were able to get a hold of his wallet and figure out who he was through that.

Chiquito was charged with battery, assault, and two counts of resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. His pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.

Staff Reports