One dead in Superman Canyon crash

Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK, February 2, 2012

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A Crownpoint woman died in a one-vehicle accident east of Gallup early Saturday. The victim, identified as Alyssa Yazzie, 21, was one of five passengers in a pickup truck seen speeding down Superman Canyon Road in Church Rock, N.M., at 2:32 a.m.

When Navajo police arrived at the scene, they discovered a brown pickup facing north with severe damage to the front and cab.

The body of a female was under the vehicle. The woman showed no signs of life, according to police, who added that it appeared that she was ejected from the vehicle when the accident occurred.

Witnesses said the driver, identified as Jamie Toledo, no age given, of Crownpoint, was driving at a high rate of speed as the vehicle entered a sharp curve.

Toledo and the other four passengers were taken to the Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment.

Mariano Lake woman run over

Another vehicle-related fatality occurred April 21, this one on the Mariano Lake Loop near Mariano Lake, N.M.

The victim was identified as Sondra Martin, 41, of Mariano Lake.

Police were called to a residence about 11:15 p.m. because of a report that a woman had been run over. When they arrived, they found Martin laying on the ground surrounded by family members.

Witnesses said a fight had broken out outside the residence a little earlier as Sampson Antonio, 23, of Mariano Lake, was leaving and getting into his pickup.

As he was leaving, Martin reportedly began hitting his vehicle and Antonio began driving in circles. On the second round the truck struck Martin and ran over her face and neck.

The case has been turned over to the Department of Criminal Investigation.



Gallup teen missing

Navajo and Gallup police have been asked to be on the lookout for a Gallup girl who has been missing since March 31 and is believed to be staying with friends in this area.

Summer James, 15, was last seen by her mother about 4 p.m., when she went to Rio West Mall to see friends while waiting for her mother to get off work at Super's Buffet north of the mall.

Although James has not returned home, police said she has been texting her sisters, saying she is staying with friends. The text messages stopped on April 18, prompting family members to report the situation to police.

Police think many people may know where James is, and they are asking anyone with information to contact the Gallup Police Department at 505-863-9365.

Police seek identity of dead woman

An unidentified Native American woman in her early 40s was found dead April 21 in a field north of Home Depot near Gallup.

McKinley County sheriff deputies said that passersby saw someone and when they checked on her found her to be unresponsive. Police noted that the victim may have been in the field for some time.

At this time, police are saying that it appears to be a natural death, possibly caused by exposure. There were no signs of foul play at the scene, they said.

Woman's body identified

Another unidentified body found near Gallup has been identified as that of a Ganado, Ariz., woman.

Police said April 21 that the body, found behind Walmart, has been identified through fingerprints as Sharron Gorman, 39. The preliminary investigation indicated that her death was not a homicide and may have been caused by exposure.

The body was discovered by two men walking in the area April 19.

Teen charged with murder

Gallup police arrested 17-year-old female in connection with the murder of a Gamerco, N.M., man April 21 on the north side of Gallup.

Amber Yazzie, who is believed to be a resident of Gallup, was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Jesse Padilla, 23.

Yazzie was with two other people - Jordan Ashley, 17, and Felicia Smith, 24 - at the time.

Witnesses said they saw Padilla and Yazzie arguing for a couple of minutes before Yazzie pulled out a knife and stabbed him several times in the chest.

Padilla died at the scene.

By the time police arrived a few minutes after the stabbing, the three suspects had walked away.

Police began a search for the suspects, who had walked to a laundromat a few blocks away where witnesses said Yazzie went into a bathroom and was seen washing blood off of her hands.

Smith called family members to pick them up and police spotted them as they were running to get into a vehicle driven by Smith's mother.

Ashley was charged with resisting or evading arrest and Smith was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and aggravated battery. Witnesses said they saw Smith kick Padilla during the fight with Yazzie.

According to Gallup Police Deputy Chief John Allen, Yazzie met Padilla for the first time that day. The reason for the fight is not known.

Man found dead in Sanders

SANDERS, Ariz. - On April 23, the Apache County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man who was found unresponsive by a passerby behind the Ole Red Barn Liquor store in Sanders, Ariz., according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Sheriff's deputies were dispatched approximately 150 yards west of the Ole Red Barn Liquor store at about 8:11 p.m. (MST) along with the Puerco Valley Fire Department.

The victim, Percy R. Yazzie, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics consulted with a medical doctor from the Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, Ariz.

The victim's cause of death is pending further investigation from the Sheriff's Office and the Medical Examiner in Apache County.

Gila River man indicted for murder

PHOENIX - On April 18, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an indictment against Martin Oliver Pablo, 22, for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

The indictment alleges that on April 7, Pablo killed another member of the Gila River Indian Community on the Gila River Indian Reservation.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction on the second charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to other prison time, a $250,000 fine, or both.

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