Staff Reports
A Ramah woman was arrested after a dispute that resulted in vehicle damage and bodily injuries.
Gallup Police Officer Maurie Rangel responded to a call from the 600 block of South Second Street in Gallup around 3:20 am on May 24. The calling party stated a person in a silver Jeep was trying to attack them and then flee.
Sgt.Terrence Peyketewa advised Rangel of two persons trying to flee the scene in the alleyway toward Third Street. Rangel located and detained one of the suspects, Leola Garcia, 42.
Garcia reportedly had injuries to her face along with blood and appeared highly intoxicated. Rangel transported Garcia back to the scene and spoke with the woman who had called in the incident. She stated she had exited her home and found Garcia and a man arguing outside. Garcia reportedly said they were looking for the caller’s mother and when they were denied access to the caller’s house, Garcia and the caller got into a physical altercation.
After the pair were separated, Garcia and the male reportedly left the scene in a silver Jeep but returned shortly afterward and hit the caller’s mother’s vehicle. The caller sustained minor injuries trying to get them to stop.
Rangel then spoke to Garcia, who reportedly said that the caller had been following them in another vehicle prior to the incident and nearly collided with her. When they returned to the residence, she said the argument resumed and the caller and another party attacked her, but she didn’t say how the accident occurred. Garcia was unable to perform the Standard Field Sobriety Tests due to her injuries.
The male who was with Garcia stated that she had been driving during the incident, so she was placed under arrest based on the investigation. The male was also placed under arrest for an active warrant out of Gallup Magistrate Court.
After Garcia was taken to a local hospital for a blood draw, she was then taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for conspiracy to commit homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, and failure to notify accidents. Her preliminary examination is set for July 1.
