Staff Reports
TRYING TO GET RID OF THE DRUG EVIDENCE
Gallup, July 3
A man reportedly tried to get rid of the aluminum foil he was using to smoke fentanyl with when a Gallup Police Officer caught him smoking the drug.
On July 3, around 8:15 pm, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was near Busy Bee Laundry, located at 2010 E. Hwy. 66, when he reportedly noticed a man holding a piece of aluminum foil and inhaling smoke through a straw. The man was eventually identified as Derrick Silentman, 29. As Mangum approached Silentman, he reportedly blew out a cloud of smoke.
According to Mangum’s report, he could smell the odor of burnt plastic, which he identified as consistent with burnt fentanyl. He also allegedly noticed that the aluminum foil had burn marks on it.
When he noticed Mangum, Silentman reportedly crushed up the foil and tried to hide it.
Mangum told Silentman repeatedly to put his hands behind his back, but Silentman resisted arrest, twisting his body, trying to walk away, and pulling his arms away. He also reportedly kept trying to get rid of the foil.
Mangum told Silentman that he was under arrest for possession of a controlled substance. He was eventually able to get control of Silentman.
During a routine search of Silentman’s body, Mangum reportedly found a clear plastic tube inside his pants pocket. The tube contained one blue pill, which Mangum identified as fentanyl.
Silentman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and resisting arrest. Mangum transported him to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. A public safety assessment was conducted July 4, but as of press time no further court action has been scheduled.
PASSED OUT IN MCDONALD’S
Gallup, July 2
A man who was passed out in a McDonald’s was eventually arrested for battery upon a police officer.
On July 2, around 8 pm, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was dispatched to the McDonald’s East, located at 2300 E. Hwy. 66, after employees reported an intoxicated man had passed out inside a restroom stall.
Mangum and Officer Jordan Gemme responded to the area, and found a man, who was later identified as Christian Barbone, lying on his back inside one of the stalls with his pants down.
Mangum repeatedly knocked on the stall door and announced the officers’ presence, but Barbone, 26, wasn’t responding.
An employee was able to unlock the stall door with a key, and Mangum then pulled Barbone out from underneath the stall door and then escorted him to his patrol unit.
Due to Barbone’s level of intoxication, Mangum requested that a public service officer transport him to the local detox center.
A McDonald’s store manager filed a trespass notice against Barbone.
When Mangum removed Barbone from his patrol unit to place him into the public service officer’s vehicle, Barbone reportedly became combative and slapped Mangum’s left arm. Mangum immediately told Barbone that he was under arrest. Barbone reacted to this by pulling away and refusing to comply with Mangum’s commands, but he was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody.
Barbone was arrested for battery upon a peace officer and resisting arrest.
STEALING FROM WALMART
Gallup, July 2
A Gamerco woman was arrested after she reportedly stole some items from the local Walmart.
On July 2, around 11:15 am, New Mexico State Police Officer Irvonne Bahe was at the Walmart located at 1650 W. Maloney Ave. with a NMSP pre-hire when a store asset protection officer approached them and said he had a possible shoplifter. A woman who was identified as Shauni Gray reportedly walked out of the store with some items she hadn’t paid for inside her purse.
Bahe approached Gray, 24, and placed her in handcuffs.
According to Bahe’s report, Gray had stolen items from Walmart in the past, and she was often uncooperative with the asset protection officers. The officers, who are employed with Walmart, asked that Gray be given a trespassing notice.
Gray allegedly agreed to return the items in her purse. She’d reportedly stolen over $80 worth of merchandise.
She also reportedly had an active warrant out for her arrest from the Gallup Police Department.
Gray was arrested for her outstanding warrant and larceny ($250 or less). As of press time, only a public safety assessment had been completed in relation to Gray’s new charges. No further information was available at this time.
PASSING OFF AS A RELATIVE
Gallup, June 28
A woman reportedly tried to give a false name when she was caught with fentanyl.
On June 28, around 3:30 am, Gallup Police Officer Jordan Gemme was on patrol near the Carl’s Jr. located at 405 Kachina St. when he noticed a woman leaning against the restaurant’s wall. The woman was eventually identified as Olivia Beaver, 32.
According to his report, Gemme noticed a small metal straw on the ground near Beaver. He identified this as an item often used to smoke drugs.
As soon as Beaver saw Gemme’s patrol car, she allegedly began collecting her belongings. Gemme exited his vehicle, and called out to Beaver. He asked her to shake out the blanket she was allegedly concealing the metal straw in. The metal straw reportedly fell to the ground.
Beaver reportedly told Gemme that her name was “Velma Beaver.”
Metro Dispatch informed Gemme that Beaver had a warrant out for her arrest. After learning of the warrant, he told her that she was under arrest for her warrant, and that she would receive a verbal warning for the drug paraphernalia.
During a routine search of Beaver’s body, Gemme reportedly found one fentanyl pill on her person.
Gemme transported Beaver to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. MCADC staff told Gemme that he had arrested Olivia Beaver, not Velma Beaver. So the warrant no longer applied to her. Instead, Gemme learned that Olivia actually had two warrants out for her arrest.
Beaver was charged with possession of a controlled substance and concealing identity. Her preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for July 8. No further information was available at press time.
GETTING DETAINED AT DAIRY QUEEN
Gallup, June 17
A man reportedly had some fentanyl on him when a Gallup Police Officer arrested him for his two outstanding warrants, leading to another charge against him.
On June 17, around 9:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was dispatched to the Walgreens located at 1870 E. Hwy. 66 after a man who reportedly had an active warrant was located in the area. The man was Larro Begay, 34.
Metro Dispatch confirmed that Begay had two active warrants out of McKinley County Magistrate Court related to failing to appear in court for cases related to breaking and entering charges.
After some searching, Mangum located Begay at the Dairy Queen, located at 2000 E. Hwy. 66. He placed him in handcuffs and arrested him.
During a routine search of Begay’s body, Mangum reportedly found two fentanyl pills inside his pants pocket.
Begay was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, along with his outstanding warrants. His preliminary hearing for the new drug charge was scheduled for July 8 in Gallup Magistrate Court. No further information was available at press time.
STEALING SODA AND ENERGY DRINKS
Gallup, June 13
A man is facing charges after he reportedly stole multiple energy drinks and sodas from a local Safeway.
On June 13, around 9:45 pm, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was dispatched to the Safeway located at 980 U.S. Hwy. 491 after a man who was later identified as Robert Lewis allegedly took multiple cases of soda and energy drinks without paying.
When Mangum arrived at the scene, he found Lewis, 30, walking southbound through the shopping center. He’d gotten approximately 100 yards away from the Safeway.
Lewis was reportedly carrying multiple cases of soda and energy drinks.
When Mangum told Lewis he was under arrest, he allegedly said he stole the drinks because he was thirsty.
Mangum placed Lewis in his patrol car and drove back to the Safeway. He then spoke to a store employee who identified Lewis as the man who had stolen the drinks.
Lewis eventually asked if he could pay for the drinks he’d stolen.
In total, Lewis allegedly stole almost $90 worth of energy drinks and soda.
During a routine search of Lewis’ body, Mangum reportedly found two fentanyl pills inside his jeans’ pocket and some aluminum foil and multiple lighters. He also allegedly found three white pills with a “10” imprinted on them. He couldn’t identify these, so he sent them in for testing. Lewis allegedly said the white pills were sleeping pills. Another officer identified them as Xanax.
Lewis was arrested on two charges of drug possession and shoplifting ($250 or less). Evidentiary and preliminary hearings in Gallup Magistrate Court were scheduled for July 8. No further information was available at press time.
