By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
A K-9 officer helped detain a man who would not comply with officers after he was found lurking outside of a local motel.
Gallup Police Officer Anthony Morales was dispatched to the Colonial Motel located at 1007 W. Coal Ave. Dec. 29 around 6:15 pm after a caller informed Metro Dispatch that a man who was either high or drunk had been asked to leave the property and refused to do so. The caller said it was her second time calling because the first time she called, law enforcement did nothing about the issue.
When Morales arrived at the motel, he found a man who was later identified as Aleksey Olsen crouching behind a vehicle. Olsen, 33, allegedly had a blanket wrapped around his left hand.
Once he noticed Morales’ patrol vehicle Olsen allegedly began walking away from him. Morales told Olsen to stop and asked him what he was doing at the motel. Olsen allegedly said he was trying to get a cigarette but continued to walk away from Morales. He eventually picked up the pace, breaking out into a run.
Morales was able to catch up to Olsen, and when he did he took the blanket out of his hands. In his report he said the blanket made him uncomfortable because he didn’t know if Olsen was concealing a weapon with it. When Morales removed the blanket, he saw that Olsen was carrying a bunch of rocks in his hand.
According to his report, Morales still believed Olsen may have been trying to commit a crime at the hotel, so he asked him to put his hands behind his back so he could place him in handcuffs.
When Olsen did not comply, Morales performed a controlled take down and placed him on the ground so he could put handcuffs on him. Olsen reportedly began to fight Morales, and even grabbed his genitals. He also tried biting the officer’s hands.
Morales had to release Olsen’s wrists multiple times due to the biting. He radioed for backup while Olsen continued to try and fight him.
Several officers arrived at the scene, but Olsen still resisted arrest. At the time he was wearing two jackets, which would have made the use of a taser difficult and could have led to further injury to either Olsen or the officers.
Eventually, Officer Ryan Boucher retrieved K-9 Officer Zeus from his patrol car, and Olsen was told that if he didn’t cooperate Zeus would bite him. Olsen still refused to cooperate, so Zeus was instructed to bite his left arm.
This led Olsen to comply, and he was put in handcuffs.
EMS personnel were called to the scene to treat Olsen and Morales. Morales reportedly had cuts on his hands and a scratch over his right eyebrow. He allegedly received these injuries during his physical altercation with Olsen.
When Olsen was arrested officers found a crystal-like substance on his person, along with a blue pill, which was believed to be fentanyl.
Olsen was transported to a local hospital for a medical clearance, and once he received that he was transported to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. He was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, battery upon a police officer, and resisting an officer.
His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 8. During the hearing his case was moved to district court.
