Staff Reports
A Tohatchi man was arrested after New Mexico State Police investigated a reported intoxicated driver and found a firearm, suspected marijuana and a large amount of cash inside the vehicle on Sept. 6.
Officer Matthew Williams and other local officers searched for a Ford Flex around 2:45 am after Metro Dispatch received a report of a potentially intoxicated driver who had left the Maverick station at the intersection of U.S. Highway 491 and Maloney Avenue.
A Gallup Police public service aide reportedly spotted the vehicle at the Allsup’s at 112 Arnold St. and said three people were inside. The aide followed the vehicle while attempting to get an officer to respond.
The Ford Flex reportedly accelerated at a high rate of speed on Coal Avenue and ran a stop sign before the aide lost sight of it.
Williams later located a vehicle matching the caller description on State Road 118. The vehicle turned onto Verdi Street, pulled onto the shoulder and shut off its lights.
After the vehicle stopped, Williams met the driver and passengers. The driver was identified as Matthew Balone, 21. Balone and one of the passengers both reportedly showed signs of intoxication including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and both appeared tired or sleepy.
The public service aide arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed the vehicle was the same one involved in the original call. The aide also identified Balone as the driver.
During the subsequent investigation, Williams reportedly saw an orange-and-blue short-barreled rifle on the front passenger floorboard. The firearm appeared to have a magazine for 9mm cartridges and was within reach of both Balone and one passenger.
Gallup Officer Jordan Gemme also reportedly located a jar containing small bags of a substance he suspected was marijuana on the rear driver’s-side floorboard.
After one of the passengers opened the vehicle door, the officers reportedly saw an open duffel bag containing what appeared to be a large amount of money on the floorboard where she had been sitting.
Balone reportedly became agitated and resisted when officers then attempted to remove a satchel he was wearing. Officers eventually took him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.
During the struggle, Williams allegedly noticed the smell of alcohol from Balone’s person.
As officers were detaining Balone, Gemme reportedly saw one passenger moving toward the front passenger area and he yelled that he was going for the firearm. Officers drew their weapons and ordered him to the ground. He was handcuffed and arrested for allegedly obstructing the arrest.
The second passenger later told police she had been picked up by Balone shortly after midnight and that they had been driving around. She reportedly said she noticed the marijuana in the vehicle and told Balone she did not want to be involved in “that business.”
She also told investigators Balone instructed her to step on top of the duffel bag during the initial encounter, seemingly to conceal its contents. She said there was also an open container in the vehicle that she was asked to hide.
Officers reportedly found additional small bags of suspected marijuana and two scale-like items during a walk-around of the vehicle. Police said the items appeared consistent with possible intent to distribute.
While securing the firearm, officers also retrieved Balone’s black satchel. Williams reported that officers could feel the shape of another firearm inside the bag.
Balone was transported to the New Mexico State Police office in Milan, N.M., where he was advised of New Mexico’s implied-consent requirements. He agreed to take the breath test, where he later posted two samples of .06.
Once the paperwork was complete, Balone was transported to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for DWI, failure to stop or yield, three counts of evading arrest, attempt to commit a felony, unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon, negligent use of a deadly weapon, battery on a peace officer, conspiracy to commit trafficking, and trafficking controlled substances.
His preliminary examination was held on Sept. 16 and the case was bound over for trial in the district court. No further court dates were available as of press time.
