Female officer battles suspect
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, May 5, 2011
A scuffle with a female police officer in Shiprock resulted in the arrest April 27 of Steven Begay, 21, of Shiprock.
The officer, who was not named in the police report, was patrolling near some housing following reports that juveniles were hanging around one of the abandoned buildings.
All but one fled as she approached, but the fourth youth allegedly charged at the officer, grabbing her by her uniform.
She used her Taser and Begay tried to grab it.
She tried to take him to the ground but he kept his balance. Begay allegedly went for her sidearm, and the officer reached for her Mace. She was then able to throw him to the ground but went down with him.
As he got up, she grabbed his shirt and he told her, "You're making me do this."
By this time, the two were still gripping each other and were up against a wall. Begay tried again to get her weapon, but the officer was able to get to her Mace. He managed to get away. By this time, the officer's eyeglasses had come off and she was trying to locate them.
She jumped in her vehicle and began searching for Begay. A witness said he had gone into another abandoned building and the officer, together with police backup that had arrived, went into the building and found him in an east room.
Begay continued to resist so police struck him with a baton until he was subdued to the point he could be handcuffed. He is charged with assault on a police officer.
Woman dead in car accident
Navajo police reported a fatality about three miles south of the Hatch Trading Post in Monticello, Utah.
There were no details of what caused the accident but police said when they arrived, the victim, Bonnie Mike Rehi, was trapped inside the vehicle and had no signs of life. Two others in the car - not identified - were taken to the Blanding hospital.
Police said the victim may have died from head injures suffered in the accident.
Arson suspected in Crownpoint fire
Police suspect the fire that destroyed a home in Crownpoint on April 28 was deliberately set.
The home belonged to Bessie and Eddie Platero, ages 69 and 77.
The two told police that their grandson, Darrell Platero, 24, of Church Rock, N.M., visited that day and that he was intoxicated and causing a disturbance.
He finally left, damaging a screen door, A little later, another relative, Olson Platero, no age given, smelled smoke and when he went outside saw a nearby hogan completely engulfed in flames.
When police arrived they were told to talk to Darrell Platero since he was the only one outside when the fire started, but he could not be found.
Warrant roundup held
A warrant roundup was held April 28 throughout the central portion of the reservation for 12 people who did not showing up to McKinley County courts for their hearings on various charges.
Those picked up were: Virgil Curley, 34, of Red Mesa, Ariz.; Austin Davies, 45, of Twin Lakes; Daryl Gishie, 50, of Indian Wells, Ariz.; Valentino Gishie, 29, of Klagetoh, Ariz.; Sam Gray, 51, of Lukachukai, Ariz.; Virgil Hale, 51, of Tonali Lake, Ariz.; Lejuene Harvey, 34, of Tsaile, Ariz.; Raymond Herder Sr., 40, Sawmill, Ariz.; Lianna Neal, 36, of Tsayatoh, N.M.; Wilson Silago, 56, Tohlakai, N.M.
Police said 33 officers from the Navajo Police Department's Drug and Gang unit and officers from Window Rock and Crownpoint helped out in the roundup.
Joseph Carlson, 50 of Twin Lakes, N.M.; and Quincy Kee, 26, of Mentmore, N.M.; actually turned themselves to the McKinley County Sheriff's Department the day before the roundup. The rest were arrested at their homes.
Police said the charges against the 12 ranged from armed robbery and aggravated DWI to child abuse and resisting arrest.
Bernadine Martin, the tribe's chief prosecutor, was on hand with extradition papers already signed by President Ben Shelly. Those who were arrested were taken to the National Guard Armory in Gallup for processing before being put in the county adult detention facility.
Sawmill arson investigated
Police investigated an arson fire in Sawmill, Ariz., on April 27.
The home of Brenda Watchman, 34, in Sawmill, was broken into, burglarized and then set on fire by the suspect, later identified as Fernando Tilden, 32, of Sawmill.
Police said Tilden was intoxicated when he was arrested.
The Watchman residence was completely destroyed and a police investigation revealed that Tilden had also tried, without success, to burn down another building some 200 yards away from the Watchman residence. This was also in conjunction with a burglary.
Tilden was found at another location and arrested on charges including aggravated arson, property damage, trespassing and burglary.