Staff Reports
HIDING FENTANYL IN HIS WALLET
Gallup, Aug. 30
On Aug. 30, around 6:45 pm, Gallup Police Officer Daniel Brown was on patrol near the Munoz Overpass when he reportedly noticed a man named Rito Martinez sitting on a concrete block hunched over.
According to Brown’s report, Martinez, 31, had a burnt piece of aluminum foil in one hand, and a straw in the other. There was also reportedly a piece of burnt aluminum foil at his feet with a melted blue pill on it.
Brown identified the pill as fentanyl. He woke Martinez up, and arrested him for possession of a controlled substance.
The foil Martinez was holding allegedly had another blue pill inside it, and when Brown conducted a routine search of his person, he also reportedly found a pill in Martinez’s wallet.
Martinez’s preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for Sept. 9. As of press time, no further update was available.
A BAG OF CRACKERS, OR DRUGS?
Gallup, Aug. 22
Two people were arrested after they were reportedly caught in the middle of a drug deal.
On Aug. 22, around 3:15 pm, Gallup Police Officer Eric Mangum was on duty near the Premier Car Wash located at 1115 W. Hwy. 66 when he noticed three individuals sitting on the slope leading up to the bridge, which is clearly marked with a “No Trespassing” sign.
According to Mangum’s report, two individuals, Theodore Bennett and Julianita Martinez reportedly passed something between themselves, although Mangum couldn’t initially identify the items.
Mangum and Officer Jordan Gemme approached the individuals, and as they did so Bennett, 22, reportedly placed an item inside his jacket, which he was wearing around his neck.
When Mangum asked Bennett why he was trying to hide something, Bennett allegedly removed a bag of crackers from his jacket, but then he immediately put his hand back in his jacket. When Mangum asked him if he had any drugs inside his jacket, Bennett reportedly said “no.”
During this exchange, Gemme was speaking with Martinez, 26, and he reportedly found a singular blue pill on her, which he identified as fentanyl.
Bennett reportedly finally revealed that he also had a singular blue pill on him.
When the officers tried to arrest Bennett, he reportedly tried to physically resist.
Bennett was eventually arrested for possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, criminal trespass, and resisting arrest. His preliminary hearing, at which he pleaded guilty/no contest, was held Sept. 2. No further information related to his case was available at press time.
Martinez was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and criminal trespass. Her preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court is scheduled for Sept. 16.
