Staff Reports
SMOKING AT A PARK
Gallup, April 2
A woman is facing drug charges after she was caught smoking fentanyl in a local park.
On April 2, around 12:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Coleman Watkins was dispatched to Bubany Park, located at 200 Victoria Park after parkgoers reportedly told Metro Dispatch that people were smoking narcotics in the area. The caller said they were walking their dog when they saw two girls laying on park equipment smoking.
When Watkins arrived at the scene he noticed a woman wearing all black clothing laying on a slide. When he approached the woman he also noticed that there was another woman sitting at the top of the slide, with her head down.
The women were identified as Amanda Gruber, 32, and Leona Begay, 30.
Watkins spoke to Gruber while another officer spoke to Begay. According to Wakins’ report, Gruber had a piece of aluminum foil, a straw-like object, and a lighter in her hand.
Wakins reportedly started his interaction with Gruber by saying “Hey, what are you doing?” But Gruber may not have realized he was standing there initially, because she allegedly screamed.
Watkins told Gruber to open up her hands and reveal what she was holding. He then reportedly told her to place the items next to her bag.
When Watkins asked her what she and Begay were doing, Gruber said they “were just sitting there.” Watkins asked if they’d been smoking, and Gruber said they hadn’t.
Watkins then told Gruber that people had called Metro Dispatch complaining about her and Begay smoking.
Gruber eventually admitted to smoking.
When Watkins ran her name through Metro Dispatch, he learned that she had outstanding warrants. He then grabbed the aluminum foil Gruber had been holding, and found a half melted pill inside it. He identified this as fentanyl.
Gruber was arrested for her outstanding warrant and possession of a controlled substance. Her preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for April 15.
Begay wasn’t arrested at the time, but she does have an outstanding charge for drug possession. Her jury trial for that case is scheduled for Sept. 22 in Gallup Magistrate Court.
PASSED OUT IN HIS VEHICLE
Gallup, March 30
A Gallup police officer arrested a man for drug possession after he reportedly found him passed out in his vehicle.
On March 30, around 7:15 am, Gallup Police Officer Elijah Bowman was dispatched to the Speedway Heritage, 990 U.S. Hwy. 491, for a welfare check. A caller had reportedly informed Metro Dispatch that two people who were sitting in a vehicle appeared to be unconscious.
When Bowman arrived at the scene, he located an older model white Ford F-150 with its hood open. He approached the vehicle, and found a man who was eventually identified as Christopher Lance Ortiz slumped over in the seat. Ortiz, 39, appeared to be sleeping.
Bowman knocked on the driver’s side door, and Ortiz woke up and opened the door.
When Bowman ran Ortiz’s name through Metro Dispatch’s database, it reportedly came back that he had a warrant out for his arrest. Bowman allowed Ortiz to finish a phone call, and then he asked him to step out of the vehicle.
Bowman reportedly tried to place Ortiz in handcuffs, but he allegedly tried to run from him. After a brief struggle, Bowman was able to get control, and placed Ortiz in handcuffs. He then put him in the back of his patrol car.
When Bowman did a routine body search on Ortiz, he allegedly found a clear container in his jacket. The container reportedly contained some objects wrapped in aluminum foil. When he unwrapped the foil, Bowman reportedly found a blue pill inside, which he identified as fentanyl.
Bowman transported Ortiz to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center, where he was booked for possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. On April 8, he requested a speedy trial. His preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for April 15.
CUTTING OFF HIS ANKLE MONITOR
Gallup, March 13
A man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor.
On March 13, around 1:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Daniel Brown was dispatched to Gallup Municipal Court, 451 Boardman Dr., after a man reportedly stole an ankle monitor.
Brown arrived at the court and met with the Court Compliance Officer Supervisor Natasha Kiro. She said that Christian Barbone, who was 25 at the time of the incident, had been put on conditions of release and given an ankle monitor on Feb. 11. He reportedly had four pending criminal cases against him, and he’d taken a global plea deal so now he was only facing one charge. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
He was reportedly supposed to come back to the court on March 5 to take the ankle monitor off, but he didn’t show up.
Kiro said the ankle bracelet cost $1,400, $175 for the straps, $50 for installation, and $160 for daily fees, for a total of $1,785. Barbone reportedly only made a $35 weekly payment on the first week of the contract for the ankle monitor.
On March 5, Kiro reportedly made contact with one of Barbone’s acquaintances, who said that he cut the ankle bracelet off.
After hearing of this, Brown called the woman who informed Kiro that Barbone cut the ankle bracelet off. According to an arrest affidavit, he asked the woman if she’d had contact with Barbone, and she said she’d seen him at the library the previous day. He reportedly called out to her, but she ignored him because “she didn’t want conflict.”
She allegedly confirmed that Barbone had cut the bracelet off. She said they’d been walking around Downtown Gallaup on March 4 and Barbone had said “f**k this, I want to drink,” before he cut the bracelet off.
Based on the information he gathered, Brown filed an arrest warrant for Barbone’s arrest, and a judge signed it later that day.
Officers served Barbone with the warrant on March 16.
Barbone is facing one count of larceny (more than $500 but less than $2,500) and one count of criminal damage to property. His next preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 21 in Gallup Magistrate Court.
