Staff Reports
RUNNING FROM THE POLICE
Gallup, Dec. 30
A Gallup man who already had a warrant out for his arrest was recently charged with resisting an officer.
On Dec. 30, around 11:45 am, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Elliott Peterson was dispatched to the Gallup Magistrate Court located at 285C Boardman Ave. after a man named Mervin Martin, who had an active warrant out for his arrest, was spotted at the courthouse.
When Peterson arrived, he found Martin, 31, sitting outside the court in a black Nissan. According to Peterson’s report, Martin told him he was at the Magistrate Court because he believed he had a court date that day. It turned out his court appearance was actually scheduled for Jan. 6.
Peterson informed Martin that he had a warrant out for his arrest. As he went to put him in handcuffs, Martin turned and began running. He took off heading northbound on Boardman Drive, and then crossed the street heading westbound on Aztec Avenue. Peterson eventually had to give up the foot chase and gave Martin’s description to Metro Dispatch.
Sgt. Salina Yazzie was able to locate a black Nissan SUV that matched Peterson’s description of the vehicle Martin had been riding in when they met at Mossman Park. The woman driving the SUV said she’d tried calling Martin, but his phone was cut off and he couldn’t receive any texts or calls.
Lt. Johnson Lee found Martin near N.M. Highway 564 getting into a black pickup truck. Lee followed the truck to Adobe Self Storage, located at 1708 S. Second St., and then arrested Martin when he got out of the vehicle.
Martin was charged with resisting an officer. His original charge was for aggravated battery upon a household member. He was arrested for that on Dec. 27. His preliminary hearing for that charge was scheduled for Jan. 15.
His pretrial hearing for resisting arrest is scheduled for Jan. 23.
CAUGHT WITH FENTANYL
Gallup, Nov. 17
A man is facing charges after he was caught with fentanyl during a traffic stop.
On Nov. 17, around 1 am, Gallup Police Officer Tyler Bowman was dispatched to the Gallup Municipal Airport, 2111 W. Historic Hwy. 66, to assist with a traffic stop. When he arrived at the scene he saw a white Chevrolet Impala with Utah license plates on it.
Four people were in the vehicle. A woman was behind the wheel and three men were sitting in the passenger seats. Bowman and another officer determined that none of the four people inside the car had a driver’s license. They checked in with Metro Dispatch to see if any of them had a warrant out for their arrest.
Metro Dispatch informed the officers that Isaiah Charley had an active warrant. The officers told Charley, 26, to get out of the vehicle and they placed him in handcuffs. They also did a pat search of his body, and when he did that Bowman reportedly found two burnt aluminum foil wrappers, a lighter, and a small container with seven fentanyl pills inside it in Charley’s pants pocket.
Charley was placed under arrest for his outstanding warrant and possession of a controlled substance. He reportedly failed to attend his Dec. 11 preliminary hearing, so a bench warrant was put out for him. His next preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22.
SELLING A STOLEN BELT BUCKLE
Gallup, Oct. 17
A man was caught on camera selling a stolen belt buckle to a local pawn shop.
On Oct. 17, Gallup Police Officer Maurie Rangel was dispatched to Andy’s Trading Company at 612 W. Wilson Ave. after a woman reportedly found her brother’s belt buckle that had been stolen seven months prior. According to Rangel’s report, the belt buckle was stolen on March 9. When Rangel arrived at the scene the victim’s sister explained that the belt buckle had been taken from her brother’s house.
The buckle was reportedly pawned for $100, and the victim’s sister reclaimed it for $125.
According to the report, the man who allegedly pawned the belt buckle was identified as Ryan Purdy, who was 25 years old at the time of the incident.
The belt buckle allegedly had a lot of damage to it, and the victim’s sister said she would contact the Gallup Police once she knew how much it would cost to fix it.
Rangel filed a summons for Purdy to appear in court and face charges of burglary. His first court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 7.
