Vehicles went TO A salvage yard
Terrance Yellowhorse of Gallup was arrested by Gallup Police Department officers on Oct. 26 for an arrest warrant stemming from the alleged theft of 10 vehicles, sold for scrap over the summer, taken from another man’s lot.
According to the affidavit for arrest warrant, Yellowhorse, 42, stole the vehicles from a storage lot off N.M. 118.
“Terrance had cut the lock to the gate securing the business,” the affidavit reads.
From there, with the help of another man, Yellowhorse hauled the vehicles to All City Recycling & Towing, 3109 Industry Dr.
“We have him on a security camera, from All City,” McKinley County Sheriff’s Officer Inv. Gabrielle Puhuyesva said, adding that Yellowhorse spread out his visits to All City, selling the vehicles for scrap on six different occasions.
Two of the stolen vehicles were destroyed before All City caught onto the alleged scheme.
To make it work, Yellowhorse convinced his helper to use his ID to get the cash for the vehicles. The man told sheriff’s investigators that “he would not have used his own ID if he had known” the vehicles were stolen, and that he was hired by Yellowhorse “for cleaning up the yard.”
Yellowhorse faces larceny, criminal trespass, breaking and entering, and criminal damage to property charges.
“Altogether it’s a fourth degree felony,” Puhuyesva said.
On Oct. 26, Yellowhorse made his first appearance in Magistrate Court. He has a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 9 in Judge Cynthia Sanders’ chambers. As of Oct. 27, Yellowhorse remains in custody at McKinley County Adult Detention Center, held on a $5,000 cash-only bond.
By Babette Herrmann
Sun Editor