Staff Reports
NOT SHOPLIFTING, BUT DOING DRUGS
Gallup, April 1
A woman whom officers initially thought was shoplifting from Safeway was allegedly caught with methamphetamine.
On April 1, around 6:45 pm, Gallup Police Officer Ryan Boucher was dispatched to the Safeway located at 980 U.S. Hwy. 491 after someone reportedly tried to shoplift. According to the report, a woman, who was eventually identified as 41-year-old Amy Sands, had been shoplifting food earlier on in the day. But according to the caller, she was back and possibly taking items again.
According to Boucher’s report, the caller believed the suspect was a man wearing a black zip-up hoodie, blue jeans, and gray/black sneakers. They said the suspect was walking through the parking lot of the American Heritage Plaza.
Boucher and Officer Darius Johnson found a person matching that clothing description outside of Marshalls, although they soon realized Sands was a woman, not a man.
Sands was holding a white plastic Safeway bag, and she showed the officers what was inside it. She was able to produce a receipt for the items.
However, as Sands was speaking to the officers, Boucher reportedly noticed some aluminum foil with burn marks on it inside the pocket of her hoodie.
Sands initially gave the officers a fake name, but when Metro Dispatch couldn’t provide any information on the name she gave, she reportedly admitted she didn’t want to go back to jail and that she had a warrant for trespassing.
She reportedly had two active warrants for her arrest, once of which was a failure to appear in court.
The officers arrested Sands and put her in handcuffs, and as they did so they found a third piece of aluminum foil on her person. According to Boucher’s report, he saw a grainy substance come from the foil. After some more investigation, Boucher reportedly determined the substance was methamphetamine.
Sands was transported to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where she was booked for her warrants and possession of a controlled substance. Her preliminary hearing for the drug charge is scheduled for April 15.
CUSSING AND KICKING
Gallup, March 30
A man is facing charges after he reportedly cussed out a McKinley County Sheriff’s deputy and kicked him.
On March 30, around 1:30 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Miguel Bittony was dispatched to the Navajo Shopping Center, 1300 S. Chino Rd., after an intoxicated man reportedly laid down on the ground in front of the business. When Bittony arrived at the scene he woke the man up and introduced himself. The man was identified as Wilson Watchman, 56.
According to Bittony’s report, Watchman smelled of alcohol, and was slurring his words. When Bittony asked Watchman to sit up, he reportedly looked in the deputy’s direction and then put his head down. Bittony asked again, but Watchman reportedly refused to comply.
Watchman allegedly said “F*** you” to Bittony.
Bittony repeatedly asked Watchman to sit up, and he eventually grabbed the man’s left arm in an effort to get him to sit up. That’s when Watchman reportedly kicked Bittony’s left leg, and said “F**k you” and told Bittony “I will f**k you up.”
The deputy asked Watchman if he needed an ambulance, and Watchman refused to answer, only saying “F**k you.” He also kicked Bittony’s leg a second time.
Bittony grabbed Watchman and turned him over on to his stomach, and placed him in handcuffs. He had to pick Watchman up and he continued to resist, dragging his legs on the ground. Bittony was eventually able to place him in the back of his patrol vehicle.
Watchman was allegedly uncooperative the whole time. He was arrested for battery upon a peace officer, and transported to the McKinley County Detention Center. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15 at the Gallup Magistrate Court.
GIVING A FAKE NAME
Gallup, March 25
A man gave a Gallup Police Officer a fake name after he was caught with fentanyl since he reportedly believed he had a warrant out for his arrest, which ended up being true.
On March 25, around 9:15 am, Gallup Police Officer Terrell Mestas was dispatched to the Shell gas station located at 500 U.S. Hwy. 491 after a public safety officer reportedly found a man who was “down and out.” The PSO said he also found a small blue pill burned onto some aluminum foil near the man. The man was eventually identified as Eric Bennett, although he did initially give Mestas a fake name.
When Mestas arrived on scene he met with Bennett, 23. Bennett reportedly said the aluminum foil wasn’t his, and that he was holding it for a friend. He initially told Mestas his name was “Theodore Bennett.”
He was reportedly covering the foil with his left hand while he was talking to Mestas. Mestas asked him if he knew what was in the foil, to which Bennett didn’t respond.
Bennett reportedly had a bag, and according to Mestas’ report, he could see a knife sticking out of it.
Maestas searched Bennet for any other weapons, and then arrested him.
Bennett continued to say the aluminum foil didn’t belong to him, but when Maestas asked for his friend’s name, Bennett could only say he just calls him “homeboy.”
The blue pill was identified as fentanyl, and Bennett was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
On the way to the Gallup Police Department, Bennett admitted that he’d given Maestas a fake name. He said he had a bench warrant out for his arrest, but when Maestas went to check it with the Metro Dispatch, they confirmed he did have a warrant.
Bennet was booked at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center for his outstanding warrant. Besides the drug charge, he was also charged with concealing identity. His preliminary hearing for the drug charge and concealing identity is scheduled for April 15 at the Gallup Magistrate Court.
