Gallup Sun

You can be a hero without a cape

The City of Gallup opened its regular meeting Sept. 24 by introducing a VIP: Sparky, the mascot dog of the Gallup Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association.

Mayor Jackie McKinney issued a proclamation by the City of Gallup declaring Oct. 6 - 12 as Fire Prevention Week.

The message Gallup Fire Department wants to spread for Fire Prevention Week 2019 is “Not every hero wears a cape.” That includes Sparky.

Fire Prevention Week will involve numerous activities and information sessions that will help to ensure the safety and security of Gallup residents, McKinney said.

“We will urge people to be aware of their surroundings and...

Car and driver found

A Gallup police officer was called to 201 J. M. Montoya Blvd. at 8:48   pm Sept. 17, where two bystanders told an officer that they were driving when they saw something on the road that appeared to be either a body or a trash bag.

When they stopped to check, they found that what they were looking at was a body.

They told the officer that they did not witness what took place, and they just saw the body lying there.

Medical personnel were called in and pronounced the person, who was later identified as Brian Silversmith, 62, a Native American man, deceased.

While officers were on scene, they received a call from Metro Dispatch about a person who witnessed the...

Anson Shirley

Sept. 22, 7:56 pm

DWI (fourth offense)

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Roane Alan was on routine patrol when he received a call from off-duty Deputy Johnson Lee, who advised he was following a black passenger car that was driving recklessly and not maintaining its lane.

Alan caught up to the vehicle near Clark Street and Viro Park and proceeded to make a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Anson Shirley, 28, of Ganado, exited the vehicle and Alan said he smelled of alcohol. Shirley also had bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech when he told Alan he had a bottle of imported vodka earlier.

Shirley consented to the standard field sobriety test, but...

ASSAULTED BY SON

Gallup, Sept. 19

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Roane Alan was on patrol when he received a call from dispatch regarding a female subject being physically assaulted by her son.

Alan was dispatched to a residence on the 1000 block of U.S. Highway 491, and made contact with the victim, identified as Jean Blackgoat, who described the incident involving her son Wallace Black, 36, of Yatahey.

Blackgoat said she had been physically abused by Black early on Sept. 19, including being choked and kicked in the stomach several times. She said Black had continued to harass and assault her later in the morning, including knocking her into the basement and threatening...