Hay truck jackknifes near Indian Wells

No one was injured in a tractor-trailer accident that occurred near Indian Wells, Ariz., on Jan. 3 but the White Cone Chapter found itself with 50 less bales of hay than they ordered.

The truck was carrying 512 bales of hay for the chapter when icy roads caused it to jackknife and overturn, spilling bales of hay all over the road.

When police arrived at the scene, they found two passing motorists helping themselves to the hay. The motorists were instructed to leave which they did.

The chapter was called and officials there were told they could salvage whatever hay was undamaged and they managed to collect 459 bales before they were done.

Tocito residents accidentally run over

Two Tocito, N.M., residents were run over by accident on Dec. 27 on Navajo Route 5000.

According to the police report, Harry Charley, 63, of Tocito, told police that he was driving on Navajo Route 5000 when he noticed two individuals lying on the roadway.

He said he was "inattentive to his surrounding" and was unable to avoid the two, who were identified as Harlan Charley, 36, and Brenda Nelson, 54.

Police said alcohol was also a factor in the accident. The case is still under investigation.

Man dies from alcohol overdose

A party to celebrate the New Year ended up with one of the people at the party dying of an apparent overdose of alcohol.

Police identified the victim as Terry Sims, 48, of Nenahnezad, N.M.

According to witnesses, Sims had come to the home of Darrel Blueeyes, 47, of Nenahnezad, on the night of Jan. 1, bringing with him a bottle of vodka which he began consuming, according to one witness, "like water."

He then fell flat on his back and the others assumed that he had gone to sleep. Later that night, they tried to wake him and found that he had no pulse.

Battery reported in Fort Defiance

Police are investigating the aggravated battery of two people at a Fort Defiance home on Dec. 22.

Police were called to the home because of a report of a fight with one person being stabbed. Shortly thereafter, police received a second call that a female had blood all over her body and that the suspect was being held down.

The victims were identified as Litonya Begay, 23, of Blue Canyon, Ariz., and Pernell Avery, 23, of Fort Defiance. When police arrived, they took into custody Marcelino Angeles, 23, of Gallup.

No details of the incident were provided in the reported. The two victims were taken to the hospital in Fort Defiance, treated and released. Police said they found two weapons at the scene, one inside the building and one outside.

Federal charges are pending.

Fire destroys trailer

A fire on Dec. 27 totally destroyed the trailer home of a Birdsprings, Ariz., woman.

Police and fire departments were called to the scene about 3:18 p.m. but by the time they arrived, the trailer was totally engulfed in flames. There were no reported injuries.

Lillie Bekay, 54, said she was building a fire in her stove in the living room when she left to make a phone call. A little later, she was told by a family member that her trailer was on fire but by the time she returned, the entire building was on fire. She said nothing could be saved of the family's possessions.

Break-in at Crownpoint High

A break-in occurred at the Crownpoint High School on Dec. 28, during which time thousands of dollars was done to the walls and structure.

Police said there were no signs of how the persons got into the building so police assumed that the vandals had acquired a master key.

A number of the walls were spray painted with gang symbols or obscene drawings. Among the items that were reported missing were a flat screen TV, a lap top computer, video game accessories and three acoustic guitars.

After an investigation, police found three suspects, two of them 16 years of age and one 12 years old. Two admitted that they were involved and said that they had a key, which turned out to belong to a teacher who had said the key was lost in early December.

Police are now in the process of trying to locate the items that were stolen.

Tuba City man pleads guilty to meth distribution

PHOENIX - JR Tom Webster, 25, of Tuba City, was sentenced Jan. 4 to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Between May and July of 2009, Webster and his co-conspirators sold methamphetamine to undercover officers on five separate occasions during an undercover operation. During one of the largest transactions, Webster and his co-conspirators traveled from Tuba City to Phoenix and Glendale, Ariz., to arrange for the sale of methamphetamine to three undercover officers.

"One more meth dealer behind bars means one less meth dealer polluting our community with this dangerous substance," said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. "This is the ninth sentence achieved from the largest drug investigation on the Navajo Nation. I commend the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety Drug & Gang Unit, the FBI, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Flagstaff Police Department for their successful collaborative efforts."

This undercover operation targeted individuals who had a history of dealing methamphetamine in Tuba City. Many of these meth dealers had connections with suppliers in Flagstaff. Webster also had connections with suppliers in Phoenix and Glendale.

Following this undercover operation, police arrested 22 people on federal charges. Nine defendants have been sentenced, seven defendants are awaiting sentencing, and trials are pending in the remaining six cases.

Back to top ^