Truck plunges off I-40
Semi skids on wet highway
Staff and Wire Reports
GALLUP — Traffic along Interstate 40 was backed up for several
miles Tuesday evening after a tractor-trailer slid off an overpass
in downtown Gallup.
In addition, a Gallup officer was hit by a car while directing
traffic.
State Police Patrolman Rod Huffman said the rig's cab ended up
dangling about 10 feet over a street passing under the interstate.
Wet conditions caused the tractor-trailer to hydroplane and jump
the guard rail at about 5:30 p.m., Huffman said.
Gallup Fire Department officials helped driver Richard Miranda,
43, and passenger Henry Perez, 40, both of California, out of
the semi with a 40-foot ladder.
Miranda and Perez were treated at Rehoboth McKinley Christian
Hospital and released.
Meanwhile, authorities disconnected the cab and got it onto the
road below.
Westbound I-40 was closed and eastbound traffic was narrowed to
one lane for nearly four hours while crews worked to clear the
highway. Westbound traffic was diverted through Gallup.
During the incident, 200 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the
semi onto Second Street. State police and Gallup fire
Hazardous Materials Team officials put sand on the fuel to absorb
it, said State Police Lt. Robert Cron.
The fuel was contained and taken to the state highway department
for disposal.
An afternoon thunderstorm passed over western New Mexico at the
time of the accident. The National Weather Service reported nearly
a 10th of an inch of rain in the Gallup area. Heavy rain also
was reported in far northern Navajo and Apache counties in neighboring
Arizona.
Officer injured
A Gallup police officer was treated at Rehoboth McKinley Christian
Hospital and released after he was hit by a vehicle driven by
a woman who was later booked on drunken driving charges.
Officer Victor Rodriguez was conscious and responsive after the
accident Tuesday night near the intersection of U.S. 666 and Maloney,
Capt. Bobby Silva said.
The officer underwent X-rays to check for possible head and neck
injuries, Gallup police said.
Police Lt. John Allen said Annie Yazzie was booked into the McKinley
County jail on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated
and aggravated battery upon a police officer.
Deputy Chief John Gonzales said Rodriguez was standing outside
his patrol car, wearing a bright orange vest, when he was hit
while directing traffic from an accident. Gonzales said there
also were flares set around.
Yazzie drove on after the officer was hit, but other officers
stopped her car a short distance away, police said.
She told officers "she knew that she hit someone at the intersection
but did not realize that it was a police officer," Allen
said.
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Man finds bullet from Kiro trailer
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The defense expert wasn't the only one to find a bullet
from the Robert Kiro trailer that was missed by the New Mexico State
Police.
Don Chavez, owner of F&R Market in Gallup, found a bullet while
he was cleaning a toilet brought to his secondhand store from the
bullet-ridden trailer.
Kiro, 34, is facing a murder charge from a May 30 incident in which
Gallup Police stormed his trailer at 680 Murray Lane to end a nine-hour
standoff. Gallup Police Cpl. Larry Brian Mitchel was killed in the
resulting shoot-out. Last week, Kiro's defense reported finding 17
bullets missed by New Mexico State Police investigators.
This new discovery of another overlooked bullet came after Kiro's
family members brought two toilets from the trailer because they are
trying to remodel the home since the incident.
"We turned the toilet upside down to remove the water and the
bullet came out," Chavez said Monday.
He couldn't describe whether the bullet was damaged. He also couldn't
tell the caliber of the bullet.
"It was just a bullet. I'm not into guns," Chavez said.
Chavez said he turned the bullet over to Gallup Police Capt. Bobby
Silva and that was the last he saw of it.
New Mexico State Police Sgt. Darrel Kindig of Albuquerque couldn't
be reached Tuesday to describe whether state police investigators
usually search toilets to see if bullets went down the commode. Gary
Wagner, investigator for the New Mexico Public Defender's Capital
Crimes Division, could not be reached for comment.
Kiro's defense team's ballistics expert, Nelson Welch of Rio Rancho,
found 17 bullets in the Kiro trailer in late June, several weeks after
State Police concluded its investigation. The defense turned the bullets
over to the State Police on Friday.
Welch found bullets from a 9 mm gun, which is the type police had,
and bullets from a .45-caliber gun, which defense believes Kiro had.
Meanwhile, Kiro might not face the death penalty if his defense attorneys,
Trienah Gorman and Gail Evans of the New Mexico Public Defender's
Capital Crimes Division in Albuquerque, can prove the bullet that
killed Mitchell didn't come from Kiro's gun.
Gallup grand jurors indicted Kiro with murder in Mitchell's death,
as well as three counts of attempted murder and seven counts of aggravated
assault on a police officer.
On Friday, at a motion's hearing in Kiro's case, Evans said she's
not satisfied that the bullet that killed Mitchell came from Kiro's
gun and not from a police officer's gun while officers were shooting
at Kiro.
If the defense can prove that Kiro didn't fire the shot that killed
Mitchell, that leaves District Attorney Karl Gillson's office with
the decision to dismiss the murder charge or go ahead with trial and
allow jurors the chance to convict or acquit Kiro.
Gillson had no comment Tuesday as to the likelihood of an officer
having shot Mitchell. He said the evidence collected by the New Mexico
State Police and the defense might bring up a host of alternative
views, and it's possible he might reconvene another grand jury to
look at new evidence.
"At the grand jury indictment stage, my office only had a tip
of the iceberg as far as evidence," Gillson said. "Given
the awesome amount of evidence found by the state and, presumably,
by the defense team, it may be necessary to re-evaluate whether current
charges against Kiro are consistent with evidence."
If the charge is dismissed, Kiro obviously will not face the death
penalty. He will, however, still face three attempted murder charges
for allegedly firing at officers during the shoot-out, seven counts
of aggravated assault on the police officers at the scene, and two
counts of aggravated assault against a household member.
Gillson said attorneys from both sides want to see that the truth
is reached during the investigation.
"In such traumatic incidents and publicized incidents as we have
here, speculations abound. It's my goal to reach the truth,
bearing in mind that the community lost a police officer, and bearing
in mind Mr. Kiro is presumed innocent," Gillson said.
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Man sought in shooting kills self
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The man being sought for the June 30 shootings in Grants
that wounded two people has died of apparent suicide after he checked
into the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque.
Tim Steptic, spokesman for the Office of Medical Investigator in Albuquerque,
said Michael F. Martinez, 44, died at 9:17 p.m. July 2 in the VA Hospital
from a gunshot wound to the head.
Hospital authorities refused to comment on why a patient in the acute
psychiatric ward had a gun in his possession. In a statement, the
hospital referred to the death as an "unfortunate situation"
and said, "A patient receiving mental health treatment made the
decision to end his life."
Court records state the investigation into the shootings in front
of apartments on Jackson Street say Dennis Quintero and a man named
"Mike," wearing a black cap with the letters FBI on it,
approached a parked car on Jackson Street about 9:30 p.m. June 30.
After Quintero spoke briefly to the occupants of the car, "Mike"
fired shots into the car. He then turned and fired into a group of
people who were standing on the street. Lloyd Lopez, 36, and his sister,
Denise Lopez, 30, were both wounded.
Grants Police Lt. Steve Bell said they have no evidence Martinez knew
the victims or that he singled them out. He said the shooting appeared
to be random.
Police learned of Martinez's death on July 6 when the undersheriff
from Trinidad, Colo., called and informed police he had been contacted
by several family members who said Martinez had been involved in a
shooting in Grants. The family members said the man had checked himself
into the VA Hospital on July 2. Upon being admitted he was placed
in a room where he committed suicide.
The family told police that Maxine and Theodore Webb were involved.
Detectives interviewed Maxine Webb, and she told them Martinez and
Quintero had been partying at her house on June 30, but they left
at 8:20 and she had seen Martinez only briefly after that. She denied
knowledge of the shooting. When police asked her if she had received
evidence from the shooting she told them she had not.
At 4:30 p.m. the family members from Colorado arrived in Grants and
were interviewed by detectives. According to the records, Maxine Webb
called the family on July 2 and told them Martinez had died at the
hospital from seizures. When the family contacted the hospital they
were told Martinez died from a self-inflicted wound. From Albuquerque
the family drove to Grants where they stayed with the Webbs until
July 5.
During the visit the Webbs allegedly told the family that Martinez
had told them he shot two people. He said Quintero was with him and
he had fired five times and he thought he had killed someone.
The affidavit states the Webbs told the family Martinez gave Maxine
Webb the clothing he was wearing on June 30, including the cap with
FBI on it, and she took it to the mountains where she burned it.
Police arrested Maxine Webb, 37, and Theodore Webb, 27, both of Milan,
on July 7 on charges of tampering with evidence.
Dennis Quintero, 29, was arrested in Trinidad, Colo., and charged
with two counts of accessory to attempted murder, two counts of accessory
to aggravated assault with the intent to commit a violent felony and
one count of conspiracy for the shooting.
Martinez served in the United States Marine Corps from 1977 and was
honorably discharged at the rank of staff sergeant in 1987. He received
numerous honors and served in the Grenada conflict. He held the Marine
Corps Sharp Shooter Pistol Badge and the Marine Corps Expert Rifle
Badge.
He ended his service as a drug and alcohol counselor in Oceanside,
Calif. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed
Veterans Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Martinez's survivors include his wife, Ayako Martinez of Grants, and
three children.
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Errors hurt Thoreau
All-Stars in loss
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — The Thoreau All-Stars tasted their first experience
at the District 5 Major Division Tournament with a 13-1 pounding by
the Los Lunas Enchantment All-Stars Tuesday afternoon at Mile High
Field.
Thoreau was plagued by five errors coupled with solid pitching and
hitting by Enchantment that led to the five-inning loss.
Thoreau, which received an opening round bye before playing Enchantment,
will play Zia tonight at 7:45 p.m. in its second round game in the
loser's bracket. Zia lost to Westgate in its opening round game.
"This is the first year for Thoreau playing in the district tournament,"
Thoreau manager Les Quintana said. "Errors is how they got their
runs. We were down 4-1 for the first three innings before they broke
the game open. But the team is still young. Playing in the district
tournament is a different league. The team did a good job the first
few innings."
Enchantment was able to score in four of the five innings before sending
Thoreau packing as the 10-run rule went into effect after five innings.
Enchantment touched Thoreau starting pitcher Nicki Elkins for its
first of 13 runs in the top of the first on an RBI-triple by catcher
Keith Sanchez.
The Thoreau All-Stars were able to show strength at the plate in the
bottom of the first inning against Enchantment pitcher Cooper Bowman,
coming up with three of their four hits in the game.
Rightfielder William Sauter got on board on an infield single off
Bowman. Then centerfielder Marcus Toya lined into a double play at
shortstop. But with two outs Elkins doubled to the leftfield corner
and leftfielder Nathan Morales hit an infield single. But Bowman put
out the fire as he got first baseman Jacey Cotant to ground out.
Enchantment pushed across three runs in the third on a basehit sandwiched
around a pair of errors at shortstop and first base.
Sanchez drove in one run with a single, while an error on a missed
grounder at first base scored another run. Second baseman Jimmy Armijo
drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 4-1
Enchantment lead.
Thoreau avoided a shutout in the bottom of the third with its only
run of the game.
Cales Mariano led off the inning with an error at third base on a
bunt. Mariano advanced and scored on a pair of groundouts.
Enchantment broke the game open in the fourth inning as Bowman drilled
a three-run home run over centerfield.
Los Lunas erupted for five more runs in the fifth on three hits, a
pair of walks along with Thoreau's fifth error of the game.
Enchantment shortstop Ricardo Taddy drove in two of the runs with
a bases-loaded basehit. First baseman Anthony Juarez doubled in another
run while an error at second base allowed two more runs to score as
Enchantment went up 13-1.
Bowman fanned two of the last three batters he faced before getting
Elkins to line out at left field to end the game on the 10-run rule.
Thoreau pitcher Nicki Elkins went the distance and allowed 13 runs
on 10 hits. Elkins fanned four and walked three.
Enchantment pitcher Cooper Bowman was consistent as he allowed just
one run on four hits while striking out five and walking one.
Elkins went 1-for-2 with a double for Thoreau.
Enchantment's leading hitters were Bowman who went 2-for-3 with a
single, a home run and three RBI; Ricardo Taddy 2-for-4 with a pair
of singles and three RBI; Keith Sanchez 2-for-4 with a single, a triple
and two RBI and Jimmy Armijo 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and one
RBI.
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Grants Braves beat Espanola, Gallup loses
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
LAS CRUCES — In the Willie Mays division the Las Cruces Dodgers
shutout the Gallup Yankees 9-0 while the Grants Braves beat the Espanola
Yankees 16-7.
Gallup will play Espanola at 11:30 a.m. and Grants plays the winner
of the Las Cruces Diamondbacks and Moriarty game at 8 p.m.
Las Cruces Dodgers 9, Gallup Yankees 0
The lack of overall performance from the Gallup Yankees handed them
a shutout loss to the host team Las Cruces Dodgers.
Offensively, the Yankees had only two hits and couldn't dominate on
two walks and a hit batter when all the runners were left on stranded.
Defensively, Gallup allowed a total of eight hits and nine walk with
three errors...
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Gallup Mets advance with win
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
LAS CRUCES — The Gallup and Grants teams finished the first round
of the NMAABC State tournament in Las Cruces at the Raymond M. Paz
Sports Complex on Tuesday.
In the Pee Wee Reese division, the Gallup Mets came from a 4-1 deficit
to beat the Santa Fe Pirates 12-6. The Ortega's A's from Grants were
beat by the Durango Red Wings 20-5.
All the teams will enter the second round of the tournament today
with Ortega's A's playing Santa Fe Pirates at 9 a.m. this morning
in the Pee Wee division. The Gallup Mets will meet the winner of the
Las Cruces Sparkplugs and Otero County at 11:30 a.m.
Pee Wee Reese division
Gallup Mets 12, Santa Fe Pirates 6
The Gallup Mets pulled out of a 4-1 shortage in the top of the fourth
inning to beat the Santa Fe Pirates 12-6...
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City names police chief
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The city manager named the new police chief Tuesday
during a press conference in his office.
David Ruiz said Daniel L. Kneale, 52, who is the tribal police chief
for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, in Onamia, Minn., will head the
60-officer police force. Kneale is scheduled to arrive in Gallup
within 45 days, as soon as he can help the Mille Lacs tribe attain
a new chief.
"It's been a long process, but it's been very thorough,"
Ruiz said of the search for chief, which included five local police
officers.
Kneale will have a salary of $67,500, as compared to former Police
Chief Danny Ross' salary of $63,500...
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Ceremony for Code Talkers clears hurdles
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A July 26 Washington ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda
to honor the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers of World War II with
Congressional Gold Medals has cleared all hurdles, U.S. Jeff Bingaman
(D-N.M.) has announced.
Bingaman is the author of the legislation that will allow the original
29 Marines who developed an unbreakable military code of World War
II to be awarded Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian
honor that Congress can award.
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill from
U.S. Rep. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) to honor Code Talkers at the Capitol
Rotunda, the final hurdle. The Senate recently passed Bingaman's
similar Senate version.
"It has taken far too long for us to properly recognize these
soldiers whose achievements have been obscured by twin veils of
secrecy and time," Bingaman said. "Awarding these medals
will give our nation a chance to bestow an honor that is long overdue
and to formally thank these brave men for their contributions..."
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Mail-in vote to decide tax hike in
Cibola
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Cibola County residents will be faced with votes on
two new sales taxes in a first-ever mail-in election.
If the tax issues pass, residents will also be faced with being
the county with the highest sales tax in the state. Also, it would
place Grants and Milan in positions as having the second highest
city sales tax of any community in the state.
Cibola County commissioners voted Monday to put the tax issues before
the voters in what will turn out to be a first mail-in vote in Cibola
County's rather short history. There will be no precinct voting.
All ballots are mailed to registered voters, who mark the ballots
and return them to Cibola County.
This type of balloting saves the county thousands of dollars in
election costs because there are no precincts to run with paid precinct
judges...
Man accused of taking cop's gun nabbed
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The suspect who allegedly threatened a young
Navajo police officer with her own weapon was captured Tuesday morning
at the scene of Sunday's incident.
Elroy John, 31, who lives about 1.5 miles northeast of the Blanco
Trading Post on the northeastern edge of the Navajo Reservation,
was taken into custody when he returned home, according to Lt. Ivan
Tsosie, acting chief of the Navajo Criminal Investigations Department.
Initially John was arrested on the bench warrant that almost cost
Karletta Tso her life. She was saved when her handgun would not
fire while John allegedly aimed it at her head. Navajo patrol officers
also routinely wear bullet-resistant vests to protect their torsos.
Police had been watching the home since the Sunday night incident
in which John and his 16-year-old stepson are alleged to have overpowered
the two-year member of the Navajo Law Enforcement Department, forcing
her to beg for her life...
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Deaths
Susie Wilson
BLACK HOUSE VALLEY — Services for Susie Wilson, 90, will be held
at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, Toadlena. Burial will follow on private family land, Black
House Valley.
Wilson died July 7 in Grants. She was born Aug. 11, 1910, in Two Grey
Hills into the Bear Enemies Clan for the Red Running into the Water
People Clan.
Survivors include her daughters, Rosie Bennett of Continental Divide,
Esther King of Mariano Lake and Dorothy Spencer of Black House Valley;
28 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Wilson was preceded in death by her parents, Ta'chii'nii Nez and Bambridge;
sons, Harry Wilson Sr. and Jerry Wilson; brother, Clyde Beyale; and
sister, Eva Beyale.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Lillian J. Johnson
NAHODISHGISH — Services for Lillian Johnson, 90, will be held
at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at Christian Reformed Church, Crownpoint.
Robert L. Jipping will officiate. Burial will be held on family land,
Nahodishgish.
Johnson died July 8 in Nahodishgish. She was born Dec. 2, 1910, in
Nahodishgish for the Salt Clan for the Kinyaa'a'anii.
Johnson was a homemaker, ranch woman and rug weaver. She worked as
a foster grandparent at various BIA, PHS and tribal offices. She also
did various projects for the Nahodishgish Chapter.
Survivors include her sons, Ned Johnson Sr. of Navajo and Tony Johnson
Sr. of Crownpoint; daughter, Irene Johnson of Crownpoint; 26 grandchildren;
60 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Johnson; daughter,
Mary Deel; parents, Jolyan and Kenna'bah Julian; brother, Tom Julian;
and sister, Nellie Julian Cowboy.
Pallbearers will be Alonzo Mariano, Henry Mariano, Ross K. Johnson
Jr., Tony K. Johnson Jr., Timothy Deel and Tommy Deel.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Daniel Tsosie
CHINLE, Ariz. — Services for Daniel Tsosie, 29, will be held
at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day
Saints, Chinle. Burial will follow on family plot, Flatrock.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to services.
Tsosie died July 5 in Phoenix. He was born into the Bitter Water for
the Water Flows Together People.
Tsosie attended school in Chinle, then attended LDS placement program
in Utah. He finished school at Camelback High School in Phoenix, where
he played football. He was employed with C&C Roofing and Metal
Product Co. in Phoenix.
Survivors include his wife, Verna Bahe; sons, Vernall Bahe and Daniel
Tsosie Jr.; daughters, Natalie Tsosie, Danielle Tsosie and Daphnie
Tsosie; parents, Samuel and Nellie Sanisya Jr.; brothers, Samuel Sanisya
III, Manuel Sanisya and Donald Crawford; sister, Rachelle Lynn Joe;
and grandparents, Edward and Elouise Tsosie.
Tsosie was preceded in death by his brothers, Leroy John Young and
Nathaniel Sanisya; and grandparents, Samuel Sanisya
Sr. and Sadie B. Yazzie.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Edward and Elouise Tsosie residence.
Tse Bonito Morturay is in charge of arrangements.
Eleanor Tsosie Tso
LITTLETON, Colo. — Services for Eleanor Tso, 85, will be held
at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 12, at World Harvest, 800 N. Buena Vista,
Farmington. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens.
Tso died July 7.
Tso was a school cook for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and worked
at the Torreon School for 35 years. She was a member of the Star.
Survivors include her sons, Benjamin Tso of Fort Defiance, Ariz.,
Franklin Tso and Daniel Tso, both of Aztec, and Donald
Tso of High Rolls; daughters, Lenora Martin of Nageezi, Nora Lossian
of Pueblo Pintado, Diane Blackwell of Littleton, Colo., and Ina Tso
of Los Angeles, Calif.; 23 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and
one great-great-grandchild.
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