Staff Reports
Featured DWI
Dartania Thomas
March 28, 12:25 a.m.
Aggravated DWI
A 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after allegedly blacking out in her car and parking in multiple spots without a license in Williams Acres.
Mckinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Dominic Molina reportedly responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle described as a white Chevrolet Cobalt. Another deputy found the vehicle, and the final traffic stop was made at Alpha and Buttercup Lane.
The driver, identified as Dartania Thomas, was accompanied by a passenger. According to Molina’s report, he smelled alcohol inside the vehicle and so he asked Thomas’ passenger if he had been drinking.
The male passenger admitted he had been drinking and due to his state, he was allegedly slurring his words and had bloodshot and watery eyes. Thomas also admitted to Officer Caleb Kleeberger she had been drinking while slurring her words. She said she had a few shots at her passenger’s grandmother’s house.
Thomas was then asked to step out of the vehicle, but she refused to take a portable breathalyzer test. She then agreed to take a series of field sobriety tests and failed all of them. During a vehicle search, a total of 16 empty mini bottles of vodka were reportedly discovered along with an empty beer can.
Thomas was placed under arrest on suspicion of driving while under the influence, possession of an open container and no driver’s license. She requested that her vehicle be released to her passenger’s aunt. The vehicle was released to her and the passenger went with her.
Thomas was taken and booked at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. She has a pretrial hearing set for April 17.
Name: Jeremiah Vince Loley
Age: 32
Arrested: March 26
Charge: Aggravated DWI
Status: Pretrial hearing on April 17
Name: Mervin Yazzie
Age: 42
Arrested: March 22
Charge: DWI
Status: Preliminary examination on April 2
Name: Melanie Tahe
Age: 31
Arrested: March 23
Charge: Aggravated DWI
Status: Pretrial hearing on April 22
