Navajo Co. Sheriff’s report – Aug. 9 to 15
HOLBROOK
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activity from Aug. 9 to Aug. 15. On Aug. 9, Courtney Gene, 30, of Fort Defiance, was arrested for driving under the influence to the slightest degree.
On Aug. 10, Sherilyn Nutumya, 37, of Winslow, was arrested for criminal damage and assault. On Aug. 10, Phillip Harris, 59, of Winslow, was arrested for disorderly conduct/fighting and criminal damage.
On Aug. 11, Kelton Newman, 25, of Oklahoma, arrested then released for possession of 33.4 grams of marijuana. On Aug. 12, deputies responded to a disorderly conduct report in Sun Valley. Jolina Culpepper, 20, of Sun Valley, admitted that she purposefully broke the eyeglasses of Kevin James, 38, of Holbrook. Both were arrested and booked into the Navajo County Jail.
K9 sniffs out $600K-plus of drugs
HOLBROOK – On Aug. 12, drug detection dog Zolton, a K9 with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, sniffed the presence of drugs and a search revealed three vacuum-sealed bags – two containing 16,000 pills of suspected fentanyl and one with 2.4 pounds of white powder of suspected cocaine or heroin. The street value was estimated to be more than $600,000.
Victor Manuel Cotero-Aguilar, 27, and Carlos Adrian Hernandez-Espino, 18, both of Phoenix, were arrested and jailed for transportation and possession of narcotic drugs.
NM State Police discover 580 pounds of marijuana
GALLUP – On July 31, the New Mexico State Police discovered 495 packages of marijuana weighing 580 pounds in a semi-trailer at the Port of Entry west of Gallup, according to a state police news release. The packages were concealed inside 20 Home Depot boxes in the trailer of the semi.
The driver, Binyam Getahun, 36, of Alexandria, Virginia and the co-driver, Mazemr Belayneh, 64, of Snellville, Georgia were both arrested and charged with possession and intent to distribute.
Traffic stop reveals dangerous drugs
HOLBROOK – On July 28, a Navajo County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 160 at Milepost 375 (west of Kayenta) for a speed violation. During the traffic stop, the deputy observed criminal activity and a search of the vehicle revealed 13 large plastic bags containing a white crystal-like substance.
The substance was field tested with results positive for methamphetamine. The total weight of the drug was 22.8 pounds, which has a street value of $612,864. Two of the four occupants were arrested and booked into Navajo County Jail.
Jose Juan Valenzuela, 35, and Leysi Martinez Victoriano, 24, both of Mesa, Arizona, were charged with dangerous drug transportation, possession and possession for use.
Missing man’s remains found
PHOENIX – The Phoenix office of the FBI reports that the remains of Willie Steamboat Declay, who was previously reported missing, were found on April 5 on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was undetermined.
If anyone has additional information about Declay’s disappearance or cause of death, they are asked to call the FBI at 623-466-1999. Declay was last seen on June 3, 2017, at the Indian Health Service hospital in Whiteriver, Arizona. He was discharged from the hospital and never returned home. The FBI sends sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow