Staff Reports
WARRANT ARREST LEADS TO DRUG BUST
Gallup, June 23
Narcotics agents arrested a Gallup man on an outstanding felony warrant and then allegedly found suspected fentanyl pills to add drug charges.
Members of the Gallup Police Department Narcotics Unit and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office were conducting surveillance at the Gas Up convenience store, 928 E. Hwy. 66, about 7:53 pm when they spotted Terran Sam, 36, who reportedly had an active felony warrant.
The officers detained Sam and, during a pat-down by Officer Lionel Desiderio, they reportedly found a metal drug tooter containing a black substance and four blue pills marked “30/M,” which Desiderio stated he believed to be fentanyl based on the training and experience.
The pills have been submitted to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety crime laboratory for testing. The suspected narcotics were logged into evidence.
Sam was booked into the Gallup-McKinley County Detention Center on the outstanding warrant and possession of a controlled substance. Following a bindover on July 17, Sam was sentenced to temporary incarceration along with probation fines and counseling.
OFFICER CHECKS ON WELFARE, FINDS FENTANYL
Gallup, June 14
Gallup Police officers arrested a Chinle, AZ man on a drug possession charge after they reportedly found a suspected fentanyl pill on his person while conducting a welfare check.
Officer Eric Mangum was on routine patrol at about 10:20 pm when he found a man identified as Jeremy Small, 35, slumped over near an electrical box south of the Marshalls parking lot, 702 U.S. Hwy. 491. Small reportedly appeared to be asleep and was nodding off when Mangum approached to check on his condition.
Mangum reportedly saw Small holding a piece of burnt aluminum foil with a blue pill bearing an “M” imprint resting on it. Based on his training and experience, Mangum believed the pill to be fentanyl. The foil also reportedly showed burn marks that indicated recent narcotics use.
Officers stated Small appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, and he was arrested at the scene. A search of the area did not uncover any additional drugs or paraphernalia.
The suspected fentanyl pill and foil were collected as evidence and submitted to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety crime laboratory for analysis. After the paperwork was finished, Small was taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for possession of a controlled substance.
His preliminary examination is set for Aug. 5.
MAN ARRESTED AFTER WAVING GUN AROUND
Gallup, Feb. 3
A Thoreau man was arrested after police stated he brandished a handgun during two altercations outside a local shopping center before fleeing in a pickup truck.
McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Dominic Molina was conducting undercover surveillance near Marshalls, 702 U.S. Hwy. 491, about 6:45 am when he witnessed a man later identified as Thurman Smith, 26 at the time of the incident, struggling with a woman behind a dumpster. During the confrontation, Smith allegedly pulled out a handgun with a silver slide, causing the woman to let go of a plastic container he had taken from her.
Molina reported that Smith walked away while waving the handgun before getting into the back seat of a Ford F-150 parked near Golden Corral, 600 N. Eleventh St. The truck later returned to the Marshalls parking lot, where Smith allegedly threw the container back toward the original group before arguing with another woman from the suspect vehicle. During that confrontation, Smith again reportedly waved the handgun, shoved the first woman, and pointed the weapon out the truck’s rear window as the vehicle drove away.
Gallup Police Officers and McKinley County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop and detained the occupants, Smith along with two others.
Smith was reportedly highly intoxicated and refused to identify himself and cooperate with officers. Deputies later discovered he had an outstanding warrant from McKinley County Magistrate Court.
The driver of the vehicle was also reportedly highly intoxicated and arrested for DWI, while the other passenger was taken to Gallup Detox. The two victims told investigators that Smith had waved the handgun at them after taking a plastic container containing bracelets. Neither of them reported any injuries.
Authorities did not recover the firearm during Smith’s arrest and believe it remained inside the pickup. The vehicle was impounded and towed to the Gallup Police Department pending a search warrant. Smith was booked into McKinley County Adult Detention Center on the outstanding warrant and armed robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Following numerous hearings and a bindover, Smith’s arraignment is set for Aug. 3.
