Staff Reports
SLUMPED OVER
Gallup, Aug. 7
A police officer found a woman slumped over near the Comcast Cable building, and now she’s facing drug charges.
On Aug. 7, around 5:30 pm, Gallup Police Officer Christopher Dawes was dispatched to the Comcast Cable building, located at 201 S. First St., after a public service officer reportedly found some individuals smoking narcotics.
When Dawes arrived at the scene he noticed a woman who was later identified as Melvina Silversmith slumped over. As Dawes approached Silversmith, 46, he reportedly noticed a lighter in her right hand and a small piece of aluminum foil with black residue and a small blue pill inside it in her left hand.
Dawes announced himself as a Gallup Police officer, and Silversmith reportedly woke up instantly and tried to hide the foil and lighter under her legs. Dawes explained that he’d already seen what was in her hands, and he told her to stand up.
Silversmith dropped the aluminum foil on the ground, and Dawes handcuffed her. Metro Dispatch informed Dawes that Silversmith had an active warrant out of Gallup Magistrate Court for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Dawes arrested Silversmith for those same charges. He collected one burnt pill, which he identified as fentanyl, from the aluminum foil.
Silversmith has a court date for Sept. 1 regarding the new charges she is facing.
SMOKING METH IN A CAR
Gallup, Aug. 7
A woman is facing drug charges after a Gallup Police officer reportedly found her smoking drugs in a car.
On Aug. 7, around 5 pm, Gallup Police Officer Jordan Gemme was dispatched to 615 W. Hill Ave. to transport a man who’d had his vehicle stolen to the recovered vehicle.
When Gemme arrived at the scene, he didn’t find the man he was looking for. Instead, he noticed a blue Toyota Prius parked outside, with its engine running. He tried to get the occupants of the vehicle’s attention, because he thought the man he was supposed to meet may be inside.
According to Gemme’s report, he noticed a lit flame while he was looking through one of the vehicle’s windows. He knocked on the passenger side’s window, and the passenger rolled down the window, with clouds of smoke billowing out.
Gemme reportedly smelled the odor of fentanyl when the window was rolled down. He also allegedly saw drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, including a glass pipe that had some burnt white residue inside it.
The passenger, who was eventually identified as Shurvina Lee, was asked to exit the vehicle. She initially refused, rolling up the window.
When Lee, 36, did open the door, she reportedly tried to hide the drug paraphernalia in some bags. Gemme also reportedly noticed opened Coors Light bottles inside the vehicle.
Gemme instructed Lee and the male passenger to get out of the vehicle. He informed the man that he wasn’t under arrest, he was only being detained for investigative purposes.
During Gemme’s investigation, he reportedly found a crystal-like substance inside the glass pipe, which he identified as methamphetamine. He also allegedly found a piece of aluminum foil with burnt residue on it and a small blue pill, which he identified as fentanyl.
Lee reportedly admitted that the drugs belonged to her. The man was released from the scene, and Lee was transported to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center.
She is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court is scheduled for Aug. 19.
CAUGHT WHILE ON PROBATION
Gallup, July 31
A man was arrested for drug possession after a probation officer caught with methamphetamine.
On July 31, around 9:15 am, Gallup Police Officer Hunter Toledo was dispatched to the Adult Probation Office (905 U.S. Hwy. 491) after a man who had a warrant out for his arrest was reportedly caught with a white crystal-like substance and paraphernalia. The man was identified as Nolan Yazzie, 31.
Toledo confirmed Yazzie’s identity and transported him to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center for booking. The substance he had on him was positively identified as methamphetamine.
Yazzie was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. His preliminary hearing for the new charges was scheduled for Aug. 12 in Gallup Magistrate Court. No further information was available at press time.
