Officer Ernest Montoya killed in vehicle rollover

By Donovan Quintero and Krista Allen
Navajo Times

DILKON, Ariz.

Officer Ernest Montoya, with the Dilkon Police District, was killed in the line of duty Sunday, according to a police report released by Deswood Tome, special advisor to Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly.

Initial reports from the Dilkon Police District stated that a Navajo police officer and the prisoner he was transporting were both killed in a one-vehicle accident early Sunday evening near Teesto, Ariz.

However, Tome said those reports were incorrect and the prisoner was not hurt in the crash.

The accident occurred when officer Montoya was on his way back to the Dilkon police substation with the prisoner, Tome added.

Tome said that Montoya suffered from health complications, which may have caused the accident.

The report also stated Montoya had struggled with the prisoner earlier.

Montoya was a 20-year veteran of the Navajo Police Department.

Tome said the prisoner was questioned about the accident, which is still under investigation.