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WEEKLY DWI REPORT

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Harold Jim

Dec. 4, 12:04 am

Aggravated DWI

McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Garyle James said he was dispatched to Castle Rock Road in connection to an accident.

When he arrived at the scene, he said he found Jim, 41, of Thoreau, who was being treated by medics.

James noticed the pickup Jim drove had a shattered front window because it had crashed into a sign.

He saw the medical crew take Jim from the driver’s side of the vehicle and walk him to the ambulance. The passenger was also taken to an ambulance.

Both were taken to the Gallup Indian Medical Center, where James said he asked Jim if he had been drinking.

Jim admitted he’d had seven or eight beers and said while he didn’t remember the accident, he knew he had not been driving.

Jim was asked to take a breath-alcohol test and refused. He was charged with aggravated DWI and the passenger was taken to the Gallup Detox Center.

 

Lawrence Tahy

Nov. 24, 3:07 am

DWI

MCSO Deputy Johnson Lee said he was dispatched to the T&R Market north of Gallup on U.S. Highway 491 after a report of a two-vehicle accident.

When he arrived at the scene, Lee met a security guard who informed him all of the participants in the accident were still there.

The woman who was driving one of the vehicles said she was OK, but the man, Lawrence Tahy, who was driving the other vehicle, had a laceration on his head.

Lee reported that Tahy showed signs of intoxication — he swayed as Lee talked to him, so Lee advised him to lean against the car.

Tahy, 43, of Fort Defiance, Ariz. said he was heading toward Window Rock when the accident occurred. He pointed toward Gallup and said he was headed in that direction when the car in front of him stopped suddenly and he ran into it.

Tahy said he’d consumed four or five cans of beer.

The female driver reportedly told Lee she was driving toward Gallup when she saw Tahy’s vehicle come across the median. She said she tried to avoid him; she thought Tahy purposely tried to hit her car.

Before Tahy was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center, Lee informed him he was being charged with DWI.

Tahy agreed to have blood drawn to determine his blood-alcohol level, and once he was given medical clearance, he was transported to the county jail.

 

Donald Crain

Nov. 23, 8:30 pm

Aggravated DWI (3rd offense)

MCSO Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling said she was dispatched to the area of Navajo Tractor Sales, just north of Gallup on U.S. Highway 491, in connection with a report of a stolen vehicle.

Houghtaling spoke with the man who was seen driving the vehicle, Donald Crain, 23, who said he was living in Albuquerque but was driving from Mariano Lake.

Crain reportedly said he was on his way to see his girlfriend and had been walking for 10 hours.

Houghtaling reported that when she began to speak with Crain, he was belligerent and cussed at her. He reportedly denied he had been driving the vehicle, although there were witnesses who said they saw him driving.

Houghtaling found the owner of the pickup, who said Crain showed up at his house earlier in the evening looking for a man who had not lived there for several years. When he left, witnesses said Crain got into the pickup and, finding the keys in the ignition, drove off with it.

After reporting the pickup stolen, the family members of the owner allegedly began searching for it. They said they saw the pickup coming out of North China Loop near Gamerco and chased it in another vehicle.

The truck finally stopped in front of Navajo Tractor when the driver struck a light pole. The family detained Crain but reported he tried several times to get passing vehicles to stop and give him a lift.

Houghtaling reported she asked Crain to take field sobriety tests. He refused and was transported to the Sheriff’s Office, where he also refused to take a breath-alcohol test. Crain told Houghtaling it did not make a difference since he had stage-two lung cancer and would be dead in six months.

Because of that statement, Houghtaling took Crain to Gallup Indian Medical Center, where personnel said they found no record of him being diagnosed with cancer.

Houghtaling then transported Crain to the county jail and reported that during the trip, Crain kept hitting his head on the top of the cruiser. When they arrived at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center, Crain continued to be uncooperative.

After completing the booking process, officials at the detention center said Crain used a lighter he’d managed to hide from the guards to set his bed on fire.

Crain was charged with aggravated DWI (third offense), unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and attempting to flee from an accident.