Alcohol appears to be a factor in crash

KIRTLAND – On the start of Christmas Eve, at about 1:46 am, New Mexico State Police were notified of a crash near the intersection of U.S. 64 milepost 42 and County Road 6500 in Kirtland, N.M.  The crash involved a Commercial Motor Vehicle and a sport utility vehicle with multiple occupants.

Officers arrived on scene and learned that the 2018 Kenworth CMV was approaching a red light at the intersection and had begun to slow. The CMV was struck from behind by a 2016 Buick Sport utility vehicle traveling west, in the same direction. Indicators at the scene show no signs of skid marks or braking prior to the impact.

The driver of the Buick Mr...

On Dec. 26, at about 8:13 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Dep. Roxanne Slim was sent to Buttercup Lane in response to an attempted suicide. A woman had called in the report over her father, who could be heard in the background of the call “yelling ‘Don’t look for me… don’t come back for me…” according to the police report.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers were directed inside the residence by another woman who appeared “scared and in a panic,” according to the report.

Slim handcuffed Tommy Denetclaw, 49, who denied that he had attempted suicide, and told the officer that he had held the woman who met the officers against her will inside the house because...

Aquille Lamont Tsosie

Dec. 14, 6:57 am

1st DWI, Aggravated

Gallup Police Department Officer Victor Madrid was dispatched to Mentmore Road and Remington Lane to investigate a car parked on the roadway. Madrid located the blue Ford passenger car parked in the northbound lane on County Road, and then found its driver, Tsosie, 24, sleeping inside.

Madrid woke Tsosie after some effort, according to the police report. Tsosie appeared dazed and disoriented, and when he exited the car he began to sway.

Madrid noticed signs of intoxication in Tsosie, including watery eyes and slurred speech. Tsosie agreed to participate in field sobriety tests, and he performed poorly on three of...

New Mexico State Police officers are out in force this holiday season, encouraging everyone to not drink and drive, and arrive safely.

On Dec. 14, around 12:05 pm New Mexico State Police Officer Todacheenie made a traffic stop for a registration violation. The violation occurred on U.S. 64 near mile post 31, however the violator continued driving until he reached the Navajo Reservation. The driver James Lee was charged with Driving while Under the Influence, Driving While License Revoked and Unreadable Registration. A warrant has been issued for these charges by the Eleventh District Attorney’s Office.

Fast-forward six days ...

On Dec. 20, around 9:51 am, Lee was stopped on U.S. 64...