BAD VACATION SURPRISE
Yatahey, June 13
A couple came back from a vacation and discovered that some of their belongings were missing and other items were scattered about.
They concluded that someone, possibly their landlord, had broken into their house.
On June 13, around 11:12 am, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Davis Jr. was dispatched to 18 S. La Bah in Yatahey.
When he arrived at the scene, he spoke to the people who lived at the house. The man stated they had been on a week-long vacation out of state and when they returned around 8:00 pm the night before, they had found things out of place and some items gone, such as jewelry and some cash.
The victim said the man who owned the house had been planning on having some people come to work on the bathroom that had been damaged by a leaking water cooler.
The man explained that he had told his landlord that they would be gone. The victim said his landlord responded by saying he didn’t care whether they were going to be home or not and that he would force his way into the house to do the work if he needed to.
The man showed Davis the bathroom that had been stripped and the bedroom and closet. It was in disarray.
In his report Davis also noted that it was evident someone had been sleeping on the bed. The deputy wasn’t able to see if there had been any forced entry.
The victim gave Davis his landlord’s information and told him he lived in Phoenix, Ariz.
Davis told the victim to write a list of the missing items and what they cost.
TROUBLESOME RELATIVE
Vanderwagen, June 12
A stepson stole a pack of beer from the Speedway his stepmom manages.
On June 12, around 6:00 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Harland Soseeah was dispatched to the Speedway at 1058 State Hwy. 602 in Vanderwagen.
When he got there, he met with the cashier, who stated a man had come into the store and taken a 30 pack of beer before walking back out and heading south on Highway 602. The employee said the suspect was the store manager’s stepson and that she had already called her manager.
The manager told her employee to call the police. The employee did not know the stepson’s name.
The beer the stepson took cost just over $24.
In his report Soseeah noted that he was unable to find the suspect.
HOUSE FIRE
Thoreau, June 11
The fire department and sheriff’s department were called to a house in Thoreau that was on fire, but no one was inside during the incident.
On June 11, around 12:51 am, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerald Watchman was dispatched to 37 Rose St. in Thoreau because the house was on fire.
When he arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames, although in his report Watchman noted it appeared to be unoccupied and he couldn’t hear anyone inside. He did see a large propane bottle about 15 feet away from the house on the east side.
The fire was put out within a short period of time. The fire crew told Watchman that the fire may have started on the east side of the house outside.
Deputy Nocona Clark noticed shoe prints and what appeared to be fingerprints on the main gate to the house.
Further investigation will be made. The estimated total for the property damage was $5,000.
A MATTER OF TRUST
Thoreau, June 10
A woman called the police and said her four-wheeler was missing. She believed her son could have stolen it since he had stolen from her in the past.
On June 10, around 9:09 pm, McKinley County Deputy Nocona Clark was dispatched to 55 Rose St. in Thoreau.
When Clark arrived at the scene he met with the vehicle’s owner. The Thoreau woman explained that she had last seen her four-wheeler around 6:00 pm the night before, and that she had noticed it was missing around 5:00 pm that day when her son had asked about it.
Clark asked the woman if she could think of anyone who would steal her four-wheeler. The woman said her son had been asking to purchase it and she stated someone had seen him looking at it.
She explained that the person who told her that her son had been looking at it wasn’t a reliable source.
In his report Clark noted that he asked the woman if she thought her son would steal from her, and she said no, but then added that he has stolen from her in the past.
The four-wheeler is a red 2004 Honda AT sport style four-wheeler. Clark gave Metro Dispatch the description and Dispatch put out an attempt to locate. The vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center as stolen.
