CHECK BANDIT BUSTED

4/18, Gallup

James Vinson remained incarcerated at the Gallup-McKinley County Adult Detention Center on a probation-related violation, officials said. Vinson was on probation for larceny and burglary charges. He’s being held on a $3,000 bond.

Vinson was taken into custody April 18 for not checking in with his Gallup probation officer, according to jail records. Vinson was a suspect in recent incidents regarding the cashing of forged checks. He’s is also listed as an accomplice to Josh Cucciardi, who is currently wanted by local police for forgery and identity theft.

In one instance of Vinson’s past wrongdoing, he attempted to cash a bogus $685.78 check...

The legal limit is .08.

Marty Chavez

April 12, 4:10 pm

13th DWI, Aggravated

It’s the unlucky 13th DWI for Chavez, a serial drunk driver. Metro Dispatch “gave out an attempt to locate” a silver mini-van in the area of Giant gas station, 1223 E. Highway 66. Chavez’s van was spotted next at Navajo Shopping Center. McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Monty Yazzie found Chavez at the Shop N’ Save, 200 Marguerite.

Yazzie made contact with one of the witnesses that called into complain about the occupants in Chavez’s van. They had asked her for money while she was gassing up at another location. Meanwhile, Chavez exited the shopping center and proceeded west on...

During a routine stop for a minor traffic violation, New Mexico State Police Officer Calvin Brown was drawn into a battle for his life April 7.

The high stakes incident began around 7 am, shortly after he pulled over a 2016 Hyundai Sonata 4-door sedan that was traveling eastbound on Interstate 40, near mile post 19.

During the traffic stop, Brown began to question the driver, who was identified as Stephen Thompson, 33, from Oklahoma City, O.K., about his travels. Brown also questioned the female passenger about their travels. According to the report, he discovered inconsistencies between the driver’s statements and the passenger statements. Due to the inconsistencies in their...

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury sitting in, has filed an indictment charging Kirby Cleveland, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Prewitt, N.M., with charges arising out of the murder of Houston James Largo, a tribal police officer of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.

Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Director Jesse Delmar of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety announced the filing of the indictment April 13.

Cleveland is scheduled to be arraigned on the eight-count indictment at 9:30 am on April 20, in the federal courthouse in Albuquerque. The indictment charges...