Staff Reports
BREAKING A WINDOW
Gallup, Aug. 4
A man is facing multiple charges after he reportedly broke a local business’ window in the middle of the night.
On Aug. 4, at approximately 1:30 am, a Public Service Officer was in the downtown area when he noticed a man, who was later identified as Jesse Eden, acting in a disorderly manner and screaming.
Eden, 41, reportedly threw a rock through a window at the Gallup Coffee Company, 203 W. Coal Ave. The public service officer immediately called for police assistance.
When an officer arrived at the scene, Eden reportedly fled on foot. After a short pursuit, officers were able to detain Eden by using a Taser.
Eden was arrested for resisting arrest and property damage.
Officers tried to contact the business owner, but was unsuccessful at the time. They took measures to secure the damaged property.
As of press time, no court dates had been scheduled in this case.
FACE DOWN OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN CORRAL
Gallup July 30
A woman was arrested for drug possession after a police officer found her passed out near the local Golden Corral.
On July 30, around 3:20 pm, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was on duty near the Golden Corral, located at 510 N. 11th St., when he noticed a woman lying face down on the ground. The woman was later identified as Monica Nolasco, 29.
When Mangum went to check and see if Nolasco was OK, he reportedly noticed that she was holding a piece of aluminum foil in her left hand. Upon further inspection, he saw that there was a partially melted blue pill in the aluminum foil, which he identified as fentanyl.
Mangum detained Nolasco, and placed her under arrest. When he completed a routine search of her body, he didn’t find any more narcotics on her.
Metro Dispatch informed Mangum that Nolasco had an active bench warrant through the McKinley County Magistrate Court for failure to appear in court for a preliminary hearing. The original charge was possession of a controlled substance. It was issued May 29.
Nolasco was arrested for her outstanding warrant and a new charge of possession of a controlled substance. Her preliminary hearing for the new charge is scheduled for Aug. 12 in Gallup Magistrate Court.
SWITCHING SEATS
Gallup, July 21
A man who was allegedly caught buying fentanyl tried to switch seats and act like he wasn’t driving in an attempt to avoid getting arrested.
On July 21, around 7:30 pm, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Dominic Molina, a member of the Violent Gang Task Force, was on duty as a member of the task force near the Colonial Motel at 1007 W. Coal Ave. conducting surveillance when he noticed two men reportedly in the middle of a drug deal.
The man who purchased the drugs, who was later identified as Clayton Russell, 31, got into a GMC Yukon and headed eastbound on Coal Avenue from Colonial Motel. It turned by Glenn’s Bakery and headed eastbound on Highway 66.
Molina pulled the vehicle over near Red Rock Beef Jerky. When the vehicle came to a stop, Molina allegedly saw Russell climb into the backseat of the vehicle. A woman who was sitting in the passenger seat then climbed into the driver’s seat.
When Molina approached the car and spoke to the woman, he reportedly saw Russell trying to hide in the backseat. Gallup Police Officer Lionel Desiderio opened one of the vehicle’s back doors and told Russell to step out. Russell reportedly had a warrant out for his arrest out of the McKinley County District Court.
Molina spoke to the woman who had been behind the wheel when he approached the car. She said she’d given Russell a ride to see his brother at the motel. According to Molina’s report, she said Russell made her switch seats with him.
Russell reportedly handed Desiderio a small Ziploc baggie with some small blue pills inside it. He also reached back into the car and grabbed another pill he had dropped and handed that over as well. The officers identified the pills as fentanyl. In total, there were 15 pills.
Desiderio also noticed a piece of burnt aluminum foil inside the car. The foil reportedly had a burnt pill inside it.
Russell was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. His preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for Aug. 5. As of press time, no further information was available.
HANGING OUT OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN CORRAL WITH DRUGS
Gallup, May 22
A man who has missed multiple preliminary hearings is facing possession charges after a police officer found him with methamphetamine and fentanyl.
On May 22 around 12:30 am, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was on patrol near the Golden Corral, located at 510 N. 11th St., when he noticed two men standing around the business. The business is a no-trespassing location after business hours.
Mangum approached the two men, and one of them, Nathaniel Deschene, was reportedly holding a clear glass pipe that had residue in it. When Deschene, 28, saw Mangum, he allegedly closed his hand around the pipe and quickly put both hands in his pocket in an alleged attempt to try and hide the drugs.
Mangum asked Deschene to show him what he had in his hand, and Deschene then removed the glass pipe from his pocket and handed it to the officer.
A white crystal-like substance was reportedly inside the pipe, which Mangum identified as methamphetamine.
Mangum placed Deschene in handcuffs and escorted him to his patrol vehicle. When he conducted a routine pat down on Deschene, he found a container inside his pants’ pocket. The container held six small blue pills. Mangum identified the pills as fentanyl.
Deschene was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. His initial preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for June 24, but when he failed to appear at that hearing, another one was scheduled for July 22. He didn’t show up to that one either, so a third one is currently scheduled for Aug. 12.
