Police Blotter: Dollar General employee arrested for selling meth

Posted by Navajo Times | Mar 3, 2016 | Police Blotter |

EAGAR, Ariz.

On Dec. 9, 2015, Apache County Special Crimes Enforcement Team detectives had received information that a Dollar General employee identified as Daniella Bencomo was selling methamphetamine to people at the Dollar General store in Eagar, Ariz., according to a news release from the Apache County Sheriff’s Office.

Based upon that information, SCET detectives conducted a buy operation at the Dollar General store when Bencomo was working. SCET detectives were able to purchase six grams of methamphetamine from Bencomo inside the store. During the operation, detectives observed Bencomo working behind the cash register and selling the methamphetamine. Six grams of methamphetamine has a street value of $250.

On Feb. 26, SCET detectives arrested Bencomo for this incident. Bencomo is currently being held in the Apache County Jail in St. Johns, Ariz., on a no bond hold on the following charges: possession of dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs for sale, transportation of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy.

In regards to the arrest of Bencomo, Sheriff Joseph Dedman stated, “People will sell drugs anywhere, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity. People and their families should not have to worry about walking into a drug deal at a grocery store or other public places. These types of people deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

Little Water man pleads guilty to assaulting police officer

ALBUQUERQUE – Eugene Kuhn, 52, a member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Littlewater, N.M., pleaded guilty Feb. 26 in federal court in Albuquerque, to assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Kuhn will be sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office.

Kuhn was arrested on June 14, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a federal officer on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M.

Kuhn was arrested after attacking a tribal police officer of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety with a metal bar in Littlewater on June 14, 2015. Kuhn attacked the officer, who is commissioned as a special federal officer by the BIA, while the officer was attempting to arrest on unrelated charges. Kuhn was subsequently indicted on July 14, 2015.

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.