Cassandra Meiser

Aug. 26, 10:13 am

Aggravated DUI/Drivers License Suspension/Revocation

Gallup patrolman Julio Yazzie said he originally was sent to the area around Camille’s Sidewalk Care, in the downtown because of a fight.

When he got there, he started looking for a white car and soon located it. Cassandra Meiser, 31, of Thoreau was the driver. She told Yazzie she was intoxicated and had a half pint of vodka and a can of beer.

She agreed to do a standard field sobriety test, but failed it. She later took a breath alcohol test and posted samples of .22 and .21.

She was taken into custody and transported to Gallup Police Dept. and then to MCDC where she was booked for...

RESISTING ARREST

Thoreau, Sept. 1

McKinley County Sheriff Sgt. Anthony Morales has no problem identifying the man sitting under the tree. It was Joshua Jason Jim, 26, of Thoreau, a man who had had several dealings with sheriff ‘s deputies in the past.

On this occasion, Sept. 1 at about 6 pm, Morales had gone to the Speedway Gas Station in Thoreau in response to a call about a man trying to fight with customers.

Morales said he told Jim to stand up, but he ignored the command. Morales said he observed several signs that Jim may have been intoxicated. When Morales again told him to stand up, he did and Morales escorted him to his police vehicle .

As he attempted to place...

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health reports the death of a 15-year-old McKinley County boy from hantavirus disease. This is the third case of hantavirus in New Mexico this year and the second death.

Hantavirus is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings or saliva. People can contract the disease when they breathe in the virus that is suspended in the air.

“We want to make sure people know how to protect themselves from hantavirus so no other family has to endure this kind of tragedy,” said New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel. “People need to avoid contact with mice and other rodents and be careful when cleaning up...

New Gallup PD program stresses reasonable use of non-deadly force

The Gallup Police Department is undergoing a policy change regarding use of force.

The department has been transitioning to the new program, called Response to Resistance, since the latter half of June, according to Captain Erin Toadlena-Pablo.

She mentioned that officers in Gallup PD are taking the training courses for the new program from Aug. 26 - 30.

The crux of the program is reducing the use of deadly force in the case of encountering a suspect. Officers first assess the situation through verbal contact with the suspect, and then resort to defensive tactics, such as mace or taser, only if the situation has...