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Gallup Police Officer arrested for aggravated battery

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A Gallup Police Department officer was arrested for aggravated battery on Nov. 20 by the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, following a call that was made by a nurse at the Gallup Indian Medical Center.

Gallup Police Officer Ransom Lee William James of Vanderwagen, N.M. was arrested at his home in the Zuni Mountain Apartments in Fort Wingate as Deputy Sheriff Josie Bowman was following up with her investigation after interviewing the female victim at the hospital.

Booking records show that James was booked into McKinley County Adult Detention Center sometime after 7:30 pm. The report lists James as 27-years-old, with a physical description of 6’3” and 210 lbs.

The victim suffered injuries to her right and left eye and to her lips. She had scratches above her left eye and a red neck from being choked, according to the police report.

The alleged incident began as the victim returned to her home from work on Nov. 19 at about 11:30 pm.

Verbal insults from Officer James toward the victim escalated as she said to him, “I’m going to tell your boss tomorrow morning,” according to the report. “That’s when he grabbed me and [threw] me back and I fell.”

The victim was hit with both of his fists on the right and left of her face.

“All I saw was black and white,” the report quotes the victim. “I thought he was going to stop after that. We have a little area, he dragged me there, throwing me around and pulling my hair. That’s when he started choking me.”

The victim responded by hitting and kicking back in her defense. She admits scratching his face, arms, and chest. She repeated her statement in notifying James’ supervisor.

“I was at the point where I could not fight anymore and [was] out of breath,” she is quoted from the report. “I didn’t want to say anything else. I don’t know what he would’ve done next. I was in fear of my life.”

The victim is four months pregnant. Police have responded to other calls of disturbances at this residence.

Officer James was arrested without incident by Sheriff Deputy Josie Bowman, who received James’ account of the incident.

The report contains no mention of alcohol or drugs.

Gallup Police Capt. Marinda Spencer, department spokesperson, says, “We know that he was involved in a domestic incident. It was reported to the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and they made an arrest.”

Officer James has been with the department for two years and is assigned to the patrol division.

“Our internal affairs will be investigating,” she said.

MCSO Sheriff Ron Silversmith responded by saying that when law enforcement officers are involved in such incidents it is a practice that the response and preliminary investigation is handled by another agency.

By Deswood Tome

Sun Correspondent