McKenzie Begay

Aug. 5, 6:20 pm

Aggravated DWI

McKinley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling was traveling eastbound on Highway 118 when she observed a silver Chevy headed west at a high rate of speed, about 56 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone. She turned around and began to follow the car.

After turning north onto County Road 5, Houghtaling conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, McKenzie Begay, 33, of Window Rock, Ariz. He handed over his insurance, registration and driver’s license. Then he said he was sorry for speeding.

Houghtaling noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. She also noticed a passenger in the car.

As Begay exited the...

HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT

Gallup, Aug. 6

While on patrol near the intersection of Crestview Road and Highway 66, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Salazar observed Franklin Warren, 45, of Gamerco, driving a motorcycle. Salazar said he recognized it by its color and knew Warren had a suspended license. He attempted a traffic stop.

The suspect then accelerated as he traveled westward, even passing a vehicle in the opposite lane. Salazar advised Deputy Johnson Lee if the suspect continued to travel west past his residence he would cancel the pursuit.

Warren did keep traveling westbound, so the pursuit was called off. Salazar suspected Warren had exceeded 130 mph as he fled.

An arrest...

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Shirley was dispatched to a house on North Ola Drive in Yah-ta-hey after receiving a report of a dispute on Aug. 7.

Shirley arrived at the scene about 4:40 pm and spotted the suspect, identified as Myron Lee, 30, of Yah-ta-hey, exiting the residence. As Shirley exited his unit, he said Lee began to approach him in an aggressive manner with his arms raised. Shirley told Lee to calm down, but he continued to shout and walk toward him.

Deputy Frank Villa arrived on scene, and Lee turned and walked back inside the house. He came out again holding a two-foot long machete and seemed ready to fight. Shirley and Villa had their service pistols drawn and...

Flags were flown at half staff

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer issued a proclamation calling for flags on the Nation to be flown at half-staff Aug. 19, in honor and memory of Earnest C. Becenti, Sr., who died on Aug. 16.

“As we mourn the loss of Earnest C. Becenti, Sr., we also honor and remember all his great sacrifices and services he provided for his Navajo people. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues as they lay him to rest today [Aug. 19],” Nez said.

Earnest was born on March 9, 1925, and was a community member of Church Rock, N.M. He was married for 69 years to his wife, Mary Becenti...