China Springs man destroys house

Lee Benally was arrested by Navajo Nation police on June 6 after he basically destroyed part of a house in Yah-Ta-Hey, N.M.

Benally, 38, of China Springs, N.M., took his pickup truck, said police, and drove it into the home of Sylvia Benally, 48, damaging the house's living room.

He also reportedly entered the house and caused extensive damage to the other rooms, destroying an entertainment center, televisions and other items.

He also broke several windows, during which he caused cuts to his hand and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment.

Ganado man uses bat in attack

It began with a report phoned in to police that several people were being attacked by a man with a bat in the Ganado, Ariz., area.

It turned out that the person in question was Herbert Begay, 45, of Ganado, who had gotten into a domestic dispute earlier in the day with his girlfriend, Lorna Tsosie, 43, also of Ganado.

During the dispute, Sampson Tsosie, 75, of Nazlini, Ariz., drove up, which ended the fight. Begay left and Tsosie and his family agreed to take Lorna Tsosie home.

When they got to her house, however, they discovered that Begay was there and he then reportedly attacked them with a bat.

Sampson Tsosie received multiple injuries to his head and was transported to Flagstaff for medical treatment. Tina Smith, no age given, of Nazlini, who was with Sampson Tsosie, also received multiple injuries and was flown to Phoenix for treatment.

Tisha Tsosie, another passenger, no age given, of Nazlini, received minor injuries and was released after treatment at a nearby health facility.

As for Begay, police said he had fled the scene and was still being sought.

Man charged with rape

A Navajo, N.M., man, identified as Gary Jackson, 51, was arrested for criminal sexual penetration and kidnapping in connection with a rape that took place in the downtown walkway in Gallup about 4 p.m. Monday.

He's accused of raping a 71-year-old woman he had been drinking with earlier in the afternoon and who he dragged into a stairwell next to the El Morro Theater after her clothes had been removed.

A witness, William Keeler, called police after he saw Jackson drag her into the stairway and city police showed up immediately and chased him several blocks until he was apprehended behind the Gallup Chamber of Commerce.

Navajo residents die in accident

A fatal accident on May 26 claimed the lives of two Navajo, N.M. residents.

Navajo Nation police identified the victims as Myron Smith, 30, and Rolanda Billie Smith, no age given. Three children, ages nine months to three years, in the car also received injuries that required hospital treatment.

According to police, the Smiths were drinking throughout the afternoon and evening before driving around the Red Acres area of Navajo that night.

They were traveling on Navajo Route 12 sometime during the evening at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and went off the road with the car overturning several times.

Everyone in the car was ejected but the family wasn't found until about 6 a.m. by a motorist.

Police find 13 packets of marijuana

Police found 13 packets of high-grade marijuana after a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Sanders, Ariz., on May 3.

The driver, Ryan Silva, of Glendale, Ariz., exhibited signs of criminal activity so the police officer asked for permission to search the vehicle. The driver denied permission so the officer used a drug dog that keyed on a part of the truck where the packets were found.

Police said the packets were sealed tightly in an effort to hide any drug odors.

Silva was turned over to Apache County authorities.

Tse Bonito trailer burns

Police and fire officials are still trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a house trailer in Tse Bonito, N.M., on May 5.

The trailer caught on fire about 1 a.m. but by the time police arrived at the scene, the entire trailer was engulfed in flames.

Police found no indication that anyone had been inside the trailer when the fire erupted. Attempts were underway to find the owner of the trailer.

5-year-old run over by officer

Gallup city police were called to the Western Skies Mobile Park about 6:30 p.m. on May 28 because of reports of an accident involving a Navajo Nation police officer.

A city police spokesman said that the officer, Lawrence Etsitty, no age given, was leaving his home preparing to go to work about 6 p.m.

He was in his vehicle talking to someone when he moved his vehicle backward and struck a five-year-old boy he didn't notice was standing behind the vehicle.

The boy, whose name was not released, was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque for severe head trauma. Police had no details on his condition.

Inscription House man sentence for killing

PHOENIX - Wilson Ray Tsosie, 47, of Inscription House, Ariz., was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison followed by placement in an alcohol rehabilitation program while on five years supervised release, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Tsosie pleaded guilty on March 23 to killing his wife on the Navajo Reservation.

On Aug. 7, 2009, Tsosie shot and killed his wife, a mother of six children, with a single shot from a .22 caliber pistol while she was sitting in the family truck.

During the hearing, the court commented that the circumstances of this case and the subsequent devastation that a defendant's excessive alcohol abuse can bring to families could serve as a sign for others.

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