STOLEN VEHICLE

Gallup, June 30

Gallup Police Officer Norman Bowman stopped to assist Gallup Narcotics Agents on a traffic stop of a suspected stolen vehicle at 1901 W. Hwy. 66. Metro Dispatch advised the vehicle had been stolen out of Durango, Colo.

Three males were inside the vehicle and detained by police. The driver, later identified as Edward Begay, 32, of Gallup, was found to have an outstanding bench warrant out of Bernalillo County Second Judicial District Court.

Bowman placed Begay under arrest for receiving and transferring stolen vehicles and concealing his identity, as well as for the warrant.

Begay was transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and...

The FBI and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations arrested a suspect for a murder of an adult male that took place in March.

Blaine Charles Morgan, 35, of Crownpoint, N.M., was arrested, charged and indicted on July 6 for a stabbing that occurred on the Navajo Nation on March 29.

The Navajo Nation notified the FBI the victim had been stabbed multiple times on March 29 and was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center before succumbing to his wounds.

Navajo Police arrested Morgan, who had turned himself in.

One witness stated Morgan and the victim had been arguing about work-related matters at their worksite in Church Rock. The two parties walked outside, and the witness stated she...

Darlene Begay

June 25, 7:36 pm

DWI (Second)

A report of a car swerving on the roadway sent McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Villa, Jr. to State Highway 566 in Church Rock, N.M. A caller told Metro Dispatch that a car with five people inside had pulled into Deadhorse Speedway and stopped in the parking lot.

A second call from a store employee said a woman named Darlene Begay was driving and was drunk.

The information matched and Villa followed the car. After it swerved and corrected, the Nissan Sentra came to a stop in the middle of Challenger Road.

Villa could see clearly into the vehicle where the driver climbed over the center console and into the back seat where there...

Marissa Paiz

June 19, 10:45 pm

Aggravated DWI (Second)

McKinley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling said she was traveling north on Second Street when she noticed a car having trouble staying in its lane. When it almost hit a curb, she conducted a traffic stop.

Marissa Paiz, 41, of Gamerco, admitted she had a few drinks before driving. Houghtaling also found a half-empty liquor miniature in the pocket of the driver’s side door.

She agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests and had problems following instructions. After failing the tests, she was arrested.

She agreed to take a breath alcohol test and posted samples of .20 and .19.

She was released on her own...