Suicide by car?

Navajo Nation Police think the death of a Sanders, Ariz., man may have been suicide by car.

Police responded to fatal car-pedestrian accident at about 2:19 a.m. on March 2.

When they got to the scene, the driver of the car, Dontati Derito, 25, of Jessup, Md., told police he was eastbound on Interstate 40 when a man - later identified as Reyes Tom Hasting, 19, ran onto the roadway and directly into his car.

Further investigation turned up the fact that the Apache County Sheriff's Office had responded the previous day to a complaint from Hastings' former girlfriend, Samie Mitchell, no age or address given, who said that he had violated a domestic violence restraining order.

Mitchell told police that when Hastings saw her he threatened to kill himself by throwing himself in front of a train, and also threatened to harm one of his relatives.

Car-pedestrian fatality in Church Rock

A car-pedestrian fatality occurred March 2 near Church Rock, N.M., area.

The driver, Stella Lynch, no age or address given, told police she was headed southbound on State Route 566 at about 7:33 p.m. when she noticed someone - Harry Begay, 50, of Church Rock - in the middle of the roadway.

She said she was doing about 50 mph and had her headlights on low beam, and didn't notice the pedestrian until she was close to him.

Lynch said she tried to swerve but was unable to avoid hitting him. Police said the right front portion of her car was damaged. There is no indicationthat alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Alcohol involved in assault

Harold Jones, 41, of Wide Ruins, Ariz., is facing charges following an alleged assault that occurred March 5 near Wide Ruins.

Police were called to the home of Freddie Navajo, 64, of Navajo, N.M., because of trouble the family had with Jones.

When police got there, they found Jones, who allegedly admitted in a statement that he had gone to the house and challenged Navajo to fight him.

There were also reports that Jones brandished a rifle at Navajo's 17-year old son. Police said they were told Jones had fired shots into the house but could find no evidence of it.

Jones is facing several charges but the U.S. attorney's office refused to prosecute because of a lack of evidence that aggravated battery took place.

Stabbing investigated

Police are investigating a report of a March 3 stabbing in Houck, Ariz., that occurred during a fight between two brothers.

The fight between Aaron Silas, 19, and Antone Silas, no age given, escalated to the point where Antone allegedly stabbed his brother with a kitchen knife.

Aaron was admitted to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment. Antone was arrested for aggravated assault.

Alcohol involved in beating

A domestic violence incident led to the arrest March 1 of a Yah-Ta-Hey, N.M., man named Junior Cornfield, 26.

Police became involved when Calvin Tsosie Sr. came to the Cornfield's house about 8 a.m. to take care of the livestock.

There he encountered Michelle Yazzie, 26, of Red Rock, N.M., who told him she had been assaulted the night before. Yazzie asked Tsosie to drop her off in Gallup but before she could leave, Cornfield, who had been in the house in an intoxicated state, approached and grabbed her by the ankle. He then dragged her back to his hogan.

When police got to the scene, they found Yazzie with serious injuries. Her face was swollen so badly that her eyes wouldn't open, and when EMTs arrived they detected what appeared to be a depressed area on her skull.

The assault was so brutal that tribal police called in the FBI. Cornfield was arrested.

Shiprock men sentenced for assault

ALBUQUERQUE - Jarin Scott, 20, was sentenced March 8 to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release following his federal assault conviction, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

His co-defendant, Chancey Begay, 19, received two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised released for his role in the same assault. Scott and Begay are both from Shiprock.

They pleaded guilty to crimes connected to a shooting last April 12 at an apartment containing five people. No one was injured. The motive was to frighten a man Scott held responsible for the breakup of his relationship.

Scott was arrested April 29 and has been in federal custody since then. He later pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon under a plea agreement with the U.S. attorney's office.

Begay was arrested April 27 and released under pretrial supervision. After violating the terms of his release, he was taken into federal custody June 30 and has been in custody since then. Begay also pled guilty under a plea agreement and admitted to knowingly driving Scott to the apartment.

Charley gets 1 year for assault

ALBUQUERQUE - Alvin Charley, 36, of Pinedale, N.M., was sentenced to one year in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to stabbing someone who tried to break up a fight between Charley and his brother, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

The stabbing occurred May 12 in Pinedale and the victim sustained life-threatening wounds to his chest and right side. Charley was charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Charley pleaded guilty to both offenses under a plea agreement with the U.S. attorney's Office.

The court has indicated that it will schedule a hearing at a later date to address the issue of restitution to the victim.

Flagstaff police cite stores for selling alchhol to underage buyers

FLAGSTAFF - The Flagstaff Police Department reports that the Wal-Mart Supercenter (2750 S. Woodlands Village Blvd.), Bashas' (Woodlands Village Blvd.), and a Shell gas station (2120 S. Milton Rd.) sold alcohol to underage people.

The discovery was made during a routine check to see if businesses were complying with state liquor laws.

Among the businesses that properly checked identification and refused to sell to people under 21 were the Walgreens on Milton Road, Safeway located at 1201 S. Plaza Way, Chevron located at 357 W. Forest Meadows, and Target located at 1650 S. Milton Road,police said.

Mesa Verde entrance station vandalized

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, Colo. - On Feb. 24, during late evening or early morning hours, the entrance station to Mesa Verde National Park was vandalized. A person or persons fired multiple shots at the entrance station. Damage is estimated at more than $2,000.

Anyone with information that might assist in the investigation is asked to call Ranger Tim Wilkinson, 970-529-4621.

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