Staff Reports
SITTING OUTSIDE TACO BELL WITH FENTANYL
A woman was reportedly caught by police with four fentanyl pills while she was sitting outside of a local Taco Bell.
On Oct. 5, around 1 am, Gallup Police Officer Jordan Gemme was on duty near the Taco Bell East, located at 914 E. Hwy. 66, when he noticed a group of people sitting near the closed business.
When he went to check on the group, he reportedly noticed that one woman, who was later identified as Athena Lomaintewa, had a red plastic container with a clear twist top containing four small blue pills, which Gemme identified as fentanyl. Lomaintewa, 40, was reportedly siting away from the rest of the group.
Gemme escorted Lomaintewa to his patrol car and placed her in handcuffs. He told her she was under arrest for possession of a controlled substance. He then transported her to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center.
Lomaintewa’s preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court was scheduled for Oct. 14. As of press time, no further updates were available.
DEALING DRUGS AT REDWOOD LODGE
Gallup, Oct. 8
When officers observed what they believed to be a drug deal, they ultimately arrested a man who was reportedly caught with methamphetamine on him.
On Oct. 8, around 2:45 pm, narcotics agents with the Gallup Police and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office Task Force were on duty in the area of the Redwood Lodge, located at 907 E. Hwy. 66, when they noticed two men meeting a group of individuals.
According to Gallup Police Officer Lionel Desiderio’s report, different groups of people would meet these two men in the parking lot, and then leave shortly after. The officers reportedly saw multiple groups meet up with them, so they believed the men may be dealing drugs.
When officers approached the men, they identified one of them as Harrison Cheykaychi, 44.
Cheykaychi allowed the officers to search his bag, and he allegedly admitted to having some drug paraphernalia and “some glass,” which Desiderio believed to mean methamphetamine.
The officers placed Cheykaychi in the back of a patrol vehicle.
Cheykaychi reportedly 3.3 grams of methamphetamine in his possession. He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. His preliminary hearing in Gallup Magistrate Court is scheduled for Oct. 28.
