Bond raised to 200K for driver in fatal crash

A bond of $200,000 has been set for Daryl Begay, 37, of Crystal, N.M., in connection with the death of Scott Costley on Sept. 23 in Gallup.

Begay, a legislative liaison with the Navajo Nation's Department of Education, was originally charged with great bodily harm and bond was set at $75,000, which allowed him to be released with payment of $7,500.

A week later the charge was increased to vehicular homicide and the bond raised to $200,000 after Costley died. He turned himself in on Oct. 1 and has been detained in the McKinley County Adult Detention Center since then.

According to state police reports, the accident occurred about 7 p.m. at the intersection of Aztec and the Munoz Overpass.

Begay, driving north, was attempting to make a left turn onto Aztec while the light was red. Costley, driving south, attempted to take evasive action but failed to prevent a collision, after which his car collided into a light pole, resulting in Costley receiving massive head injuries.

The case has created a media stir in New Mexico after it was reported that Begay had two prior DWI charges and that his blood alcohol in the latest incident was reported to be .15, almost twice the legal limit.

He is also facing charges of having an open container in his car as well as drug paraphernalia.

Motorcyclist killed in crash

Another accident, between a motorcycle and a pickup, resulted in the death of a Kirtland, N.M., man on Oct. 2.

The victim, identified as Vern Ernest Charley, no age given, was traveling southbound on his motorcycle on Navajo Route 3005 near Fruitland, N.M.

At the same time, Phillip Begay, 47, of Newcomb, N.M., was traveling east on Navajo Route 4033 an was planning to turn onto 3005.

Begay told police that he thought he had time to make the turn but Charley came up to Begay's vehicle and attempted to take evasive action. He collided with the front bumper of Begay's pickup. Charley received severe injuries to his leg and died at the scene.

There was no indication in the police report of any charges filed against Begay although the report said the case was still under investigation.

Investigation focuses on $11,000

Navajo Nation police are looking into the embezzlement of $11,826.25 by an employee of the Chevron Gas Station in Burnside, Ariz.

No arrests have been made but police said they have a suspect and an investigation is underway.

Tsegi man stabbed

Police are also investigating a stabbing that occurred on Oct. 2 in Tsegi, Ariz.

Chares Boone, 24, of Tsegi, drove up to a police officer and told him that Chris Cly, 31, also of Tsegi, had been stabbed and was at that moment being transported to Kayenta for medical treatment. From there, he was to be flown to Flagstaff for more treatment.

Cly had received a large stab wound to his left underarm by an unknown sharp object.

Five suspects, all from the Kayenta area, and all in their late teens or early 20s, were detained but no arrests were made. The case is still pending.

Tuba City man arrested for battery

It started out as a report from Rosita Hurley, no age given, of Tuba City, that a man was intoxicated and was going "crazy" outside her residence.

The man in question was later identified as Norman Bryant, 48, of Tuba City.

Hurley said the man was last seen going behind her residence.

As police were going to the scene, the dispatcher received another call saying that it sounded as if someone was being beaten up behind the Hurley residence.

When police got to the scene, they found Lavor Hurley outside a shed in back of the Hurley residence. His clothes were covered with blood and he had five lacerations on his head.

He said he and a friend were sleeping in the shed behind the residence when someone came in and started beating him over the head with a two-by-four. That man turned out to be Bryant, who police arrested on charges of aggravated battery.

Cameron man stabbed

Another aggravated battery was reported in the Cameron, Ariz., area on Oct.3.

In this case, the first reports came by phone from Lorlene Reed, who told police that a stabbing had occurred at her residence.

When police got to the residence, they found Eldred Reed, 30, of Cameron, being treated by EMTs. He was later flown to Flagstaff.

Police said that the stabbing occurred when the victim got into a fight with Erik Gregg, 31, also of Cameron.

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