2nd warrant pickup nets 17

Navajo Nation police, aided by several other law enforcement agencies conducted their second "Safe Neighborhood" warrant pickup on Jan. 14, arresting 17 men and women from the Eastern Navajo Agency.

Twenty-seven officers from the Crownpoint District, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Shiprock, drug enforcement and New Mexico State Police  participated in the roundup.

Those involved in the roundup went to selected homes in several communities at 6 a.m. to arrest people who had bench warrants for violent crimes such as serious domestic violence, aggravated battery, drugs, gangs, weapons and DWI.

Arrested were: Emerson Pinto, Crownpoint; Fredrick Pinto, Thoreau; Marcus and Michael Platero, Thoreau; Ronald Lynch, Church Rock; Tyrone Platero, Prewitt; Chris Martinez, Prewitt; Tommy Martinez, Haystack; Travis Touchin, Church Rock; Wesley Yazzie, Church Rock; Darrell Livingston, Mariano Lake; Albert Martinez Pinedale; Alonzo Thomas, Iyanbito; John Platero, Iyanbito; Candice Becenti-Nez Iyanbito; and Evan Nachin, Church Rock.

Because of limited jail space, most of those who were arrested were out by the afternoon but Samson Cowboy, director of the tribe's Division of Public Safety, said he felt the roundup was warranted because some of those who were picked up resolved their problems with the court.

The first roundup, held in November in the Church Rock area, also resulted in almost 20 arrests being made.

The Safe Neighborhood Program ahs been in effect in the Thoreau area since 2007, Cowboy said.

The tribe first tried to get funds from the federal "Weed and Seed" program but couldn't qualify because they didn't have the statistical data that was required. In talking with the New Mexico attorney general's office, the suggestion was made to apply to the Safe Neighborhood Program.

"We originally were told we would get $200,000 but then $50,000 was taken away and given to another tribe," said Cowboy.

The tribe partnered with the St. Bonaventure Mission and, working with Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie (Thoreau) and various state and federal agencies, a program was set up to make neighborhoods in the Eastern Navajo Agency safer.

Cowboy said groups tried to get Navajo Housing Authority involved as well because of the gang problems at some NHA projects but NHA officials didn't show any interest.

"Evidently they don't think there is any crime in that area," said Cowboy.

He added that the police department is planning to conduct more of these roundups in the future, warning people who have bench warrants to take care of them or risk being woke up early one morning and carted off to jail.

Leupp man dies while walking home

A Leupp Ariz., resident died when his truck got stuck in the mud and he tried to walk home in the cold weather.

Police identified the victim as Raymond Phelps, 78.

He had left his home about 5 p.m. on Jan. 17 to turn on water for his livestock and did not return home that night.

Family members, conducting a search the following day, found his truck stuck in the mud. Phelps' body was found in an open field nearby.

Police said Phelps was apparently driving home when he got stuck in the mud, tried to get it out and when that failed, started walking home.

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