Featured DWI
Henry Bia
March 11, 4:39 pm
Aggravated DWI (Third)
A vehicle collision in a motel parking lot led to a Fort Defiance man, Henry Bia, 65, being arrested and charged with his third DWI.
Gallup Officer Ryan Boucher was dispatched to the Golden Desert Motel, 1205 W. Hwy. 66, after Metro Dispatch advised a white pickup truck had been driving slowly in the middle of the roadway from South Woodrow Street and Coal Avenue and then pulled into the motel’s lot before striking another vehicle.
Officers had already pulled over a vehicle matching the caller’s description when Boucher arrived at the scene. Boucher assessed the damage to the vehicle before getting the driver’s information from Officer Alana Bradley.
Bia reportedly told Bradley he was going to meet his niece at a local restaurant. However, Bia showed signs of intoxication including smelling of alcohol, which Boucher verified along with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Bia also reportedly stated he drank a pint of Importers Vodka prior to driving and that he had a leg injury that would prevent him from performing the Standard Field Sobriety Tests.
Boucher administered alternative testing instead, which Bia failed to pass. Bia was placed under arrest and initially refused to give a breath sample, however he later consented and gave one sample over .16 with a second sample that was not recorded.
Bia was then taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI (third), careless driving, and open container. His final pretrial hearing is set for June 11.
Name: Angel Gutirrez
Age: 39
Arrested: April 2
Charge: Aggravated DWI
Status: Pretrial hearing on April 30
Name: Keevin Keyanna
Age: 52
Arrested: March 27
Charge: DWI (Second)
Status: Pretrial hearing on April 30
Name: Lyle Thompson
Age: 34
Arrested: March 28
Charge: Aggravated DWI
Status: Jury trial on June 28
Name: Leah Leuppe
Age: 37
Arrested: March 27
Charge: Aggravated DWI (Second)
Status: Motion hearing on July 11
Name: Duran Upshaw
Age: 41
Arrested: March 22
Charge: Aggravated DWI
Status: Jury trial on June 28
Name: Byron Begaye
Age: 32
Arrested: Nov. 12
Charge: Aggravated DWI
Status: Convicted, sentenced to fine, probation, community service on March 28
Staff Reports