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 warrant will be drafted for Warren on charges of aggravated fleeing and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

WEED BUST

Gamerco, Aug. 5

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnson Lee was monitoring traffic on South Chino Loop when he observed a vehicle traveling 38 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone. He began following the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop south of the Gamerco Trail Head.

Lee made contact with the driver, Max Milan Mataya, 20, of Gamerco, and asked for his license and registration. As Mataya presented the requested papers, Lee noted the vehicle had the smell of what he suspected was raw marijuana coming from inside.

Deputy Brandon Salazar arrived on scene to write up the citation for Mataya while Lee confirmed the vehicle identification number. Lee then had his K9 officer sniff the area around the vehicle. Mataya admitted there were two grams of marijuana inside the vehicle and that he did not have a medical marijuana card.

Mataya said the car was not his and refused to let the deputy search it.

After his mother arrived and spoke with her son, Mataya let deputies proceed with the search. They found a large bag filled with a leafy green substance in the back seat, later confirmed to be marijuana.

Capt. Rocky Klein advised Lee to release Mataya until the amount of marijuana could be confirmed. The deputies took the marijuana back to the sheriff’s office to weigh it. It turned out to be just over 16 ounces.

An arrest warrant will be applied for.