Tribal employee arrested at office

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

FORT DEFIANCE — Four persons were charged with public intoxication on Feb. 4-5 after Navajo Nation Police received a report from Andre Cordova of the Office of the Navajo Nation President and Vice President, and Joe Dedman, Internal Affairs, of a disturbance at the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

Cordova called the Telecommunications office to speak with an employee, Alexzander Arviso, 31, of Navajo, N.M. After speaking with Arviso, Cordova suspected something was amiss because Arviso's speech was slurred and he was behaving in an unusual manner, according to the report.

Cordova went to check on Arviso at the office and allegedly found Arviso and three other individuals intoxicated. Cordova called Dedman at Internal Affairs and asked him to come to the Telecommunications office.

Police found several empty bottles of liquor on the desk. Arviso was taken outside by police and asked to perform a field sobriety test; however, Arviso told officers he was "too buzzed," the report states. Arviso was asked several times to take the test, but each time he refused, police said. He was arrested and charged with public intoxication.

Also charged with public intoxication in the incident were Patrick Hernasy, 31 of Provo, Utah; Nathaniel Tsosie, 34, of Oak Springs; and Merwyn Johns, 41, of Fort Defiance. Several empty bottles of liquor were taken into evidence.

Hostage rescue
LOWER MOENCOPI — Tuba City Police District's Tactical Operations Team was called out around 7:10 p.m. Feb. 5 to assist Hopi Police in Lower Moencopi after a man and his girlfriend barricaded themselves inside a trailer.

The man, identified as Cedrick Honeyumptewa, 38, whose address was given as northeast of Hopi Housing 54, Moencopi, allegedly had committed several aggravated assaults.

Hopi Police located the suspect around 4:18 p.m. inside a trailer on the west side of Lower Moencopi Village, however, Honeyumptewa refused to exit, instead barricading himself inside the trailer along with his girlfriend, identified as Jolene.

Victims of the assault and relatives told police that Honeyumptewa was armed with knives. Tuba City's tactical team and Hopi Police Officers Ronald Bhanimptewa, Rex Butler and Howard Sakiestewa made entry into the building utilizing a flashbang to stun and overcome the suspect and his girlfriend.

One injured in crash
TWO GREY HILLS — A Newcomb man was injured in a one-vehicle accident Feb. 9, about 2 miles south of Navajo Route 19 and Navajo Route 5000.

According to Shiprock Division of Public Safety Officer Julie Smiley, Jack Gleason, 39, was traveling northbound on Navajo Route 5000 when the 2002 Chevrolet pickup he was driving topped a hill, possibly at a high rate of speed and Gleason lost control of the vehicle at a curve in the road.

Officer Smiley said Gleason traveled into the oncoming lane of traffic, hit an embankment, and the vehicle flipped, ejecting Gleason, who was not wearing a seatbelt.

Gleason fell against the right-of-way fence, breaking the top wire. When he regained consciousness, Gleason told officers he was all right. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital as a precautionary measure, due to being ejected from the vehicle.

Armed robberies
GANADO — Two male individuals, wearing dark clothes, masks, and carrying knives, entered the Mustang/Giant store at Burnside Junction on Jan. 26 and demanded the clerk hand over the money from the cash register.

According to Navajo Nation Police from Window Rock Police District, the cashier opened the cash register and as one of suspects reached into the register for the money, he was hit in the face by the cashier, who also pulled off the suspect's face mask.

The suspects fled the store with $101 in cash and were last seen running toward Ganado Acres Apartments. Navajo Criminal Investigations Division and FBI are investigating.

Also on Jan. 26, sometime after midnight someone broke into the Ganado Social Services Building by prying the southeast door. A white security safe containing approximately $400 in fund-raising money and a new electronic organizer were taken.

Navajo Nation Police Officer Irvin Attson is asking for assistance from any community member who might have information regarding the incident.

Burn victim
SHIPROCK — A Shiprock woman was transported Feb. 3 by ambulance to Northern Navajo Medical Center after suffering severe burns when she tripped and fell.

According to Navajo Nation Patrol Officer Priscilla Barber, Beverly Jefferson, 57, of South Non-Profit Housing, suffered first-degree burns on her face and scalp and second-degree burns on her left arm, hand and chest.

Jefferson told emergency medical technicians and nurses that she was carrying four gallons of hot water in a bucket when she tripped over a child's shoe in the hallway of the home. The water splashed on her face and the left side of her body.

She was admitted to Northern Navajo Medical Center for observation.

Crash kills one
FORT DEFIANCE — A Navajo, N.M., woman died Jan. 28 as a result of a two-vehicle collision that occurred around 9:42 p.m. on the southside of the junction of Navajo Route 12 and Route 7.

According to Navajo Nation Police Officer Karl Atcitty and Criminal Investigator Salvantis Begay, a red 1998 Ford Escort driven by Rosalie Marie Begay, 31, was traveling southbound in the northbound lane of Route 12 when the vehicle was struck head-on by a green S-10 pickup driven by Justin Montoya.

Both drivers were transported by ambulance to the hospital in Fort Defiance. Begay died shortly before 11:30 p.m. from multiple injuries.

Montoya was treated for injuries and then arrested and charged with DUI.

Officer assaulted
GANADO — A Navajo Nation Police Officer was injured Jan. 2 after responding to a fight disturbance call about 100 yards south of the old Exxon station in Ganado, according to a report released this week by Navajo Nation Police.

Officer Marwin Joe took the suspect, Stacy Bia (no age or address given), into custody and charged him with disorderly conduct.

As Bia was being placed inside the police unit, he became hostile and head-butted the officer on the forehead and left side of his jaw, resulting in the officer sustaining two broken lower left teeth.

Officer Irvin Attson assisted in securing Bia, who additionally was charged with two counts of battery and transported to Window Rock Detention Center.

Criminal Investigator Michael Henderson was notified. The investigation is continuing.