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A police-involved shooting sent a Tonalea, Ariz., man to the hospital March 2 with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The man, identified as Amos Boone, no age given, was shot after he charged at a police officer following several attempts by her and another police officer to get him under control.
Navajo Police Chief Jim Benally said the officer, Corrina Thinn, has been placed on administrative leave, as is the custom in police shootings, and the shooting is being reviewed by the FBI.
Preliminary investigations by the Navajo Police department indicate that Thinn was acting in self-defense and the shooting was justified.
The incident began about 12:30 p.m. near Kaibeto, Ariz., where police officers had been sent to investigate a report of domestic violence.
An attempt was made to stop Boone's car on Route 21 but instead of stopping, he fled east to U.S. Highway 160 and then north on Route 16.
By this time there were two police units in pursuit of Boone, who had managed to ram one of the vehicles, causing one of the officers to fire three shots at Boone's vehicle in an effort to disable it.
Two miles further on, Boone's vehicle was disabled and officers demanded him to keep his hands up. The police report indicates that he refused to follow commands and instead charged at the officer, resulting in her firing one shot, hitting him in the abdomen.
He was flown to Flagstaff and is now recuperating. Police said Brown is currently on federal probation.
The officer who was in the car that Brown reportedly rammed received neck injuries and was treated and released.
Shirley staffer arrested on DV charge
A staff assistant to President Joe Shirley Jr. found himself under arrest Feb. 24 for domestic violence.
Gilbert Brown, 67, was arrested at his home in Manuelito, N.M. The victims were listed as his wife, Pauline Brown, 48, and his stepdaughter, Valerie Begay, 26.
The police report contained no information on what occurred but said that Pauline Brown suffered physical injuries to her left knee, right forearm and left cheek in the incident.
TC man dies of gunshot wounds
A Tuba City man died March 3 of gunshot wounds in a shooting that apparently stemmed from an argument.
Police said the incident occurred at 7:52 p.m. at the home of Jimmy Begay northwest of the Gap Trading Post. The victim was identified as Isaiah John Tsinnie, 27.
Police were called to the house because of reports of a gun being fired. When they arrived, they found blood on the ground and on the doorknob, but no one at the house.
Neighbors came over and told police that Tsinnie had been transported to the hospital. Hospital officials said he died there.
Donovan Curtis then arrived at the house and told police that he and Michael Whiterock, 32, of Gap, Ariz., had transported Tsinnie to the hospital.
Curtis said he was using the restroom at the time of the shooting. He, Whiterock and three other men - identified as Raymond Willie, 35, of Gap, Dino Willie, address and age unknown, and Kino Begay, 31 of Marble Canyon, Ariz., had been drinking during the evening.
Curtis told police he heard a fight going on outside, then heard a gunshot. When he went out, he found Curtis on the ground and Whiterock coming to help him.
Police said the other three suspects were not at the scene and are now being sought.
Rollover fatal to Ganado woman
A one-vehicle rollover Feb. 29 ended the life of a Ganado, Ariz., woman, identified as Dolly Morgan, 59.
Morgan was driving westbound on State Route 264 near Hubbell's Trading Post at about 4:11 p.m. when she got involved in the accident.
Police said she was traveling at a high rate of speed when she saw an oncoming car and attempted to get back into the westbound lane. She lost control of the car, causing it to roll several times, ejecting her and her two passengers.
The two passengers, who were not identified, were treated at local hospitals and one was flown to Phoenix for more treatment.
Diabetic man dies after binge
Police responded to an unattended death in Sanostee, N.M., on March 2. The victim was listed as Richard Blackhat, 59.
Relatives told police that Blackhat had been on a drinking binge for a week and had not been eating. He was diabetic and had high blood pressure and relatives said they checked up on him and found him on his bed not breathing.
Cause unknown in Mariano Lake fire
Police and fire officials are still trying to determine who or what started a fire at the old Navajo Housing Authority complex at Mariano Lake, N.M., on March 1.
Police and fire were called to the scene about 8:47 p.m. and found one of the abandoned houses on fire.
Neighbors told police that they saw no one around the house that evening, but it was not uncommon to see drunks or juveniles hanging around it.
The fire, according to fire officials, started in the living room and caused severe damage to the building. There are no suspects.