Robbery thwarted
Man stabbed four times at local motel

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 27-year-old Travel Lodge employee thwarted a would-be robber's plans by locking himself inside the business's back room.

A unknown man armed with a 9- to 12-inch blade approached Travel Lodge employee Kieth Knoole, who was standing at the business counter and demanded he give him all the lodge's money.

According to a police report, the individual said "Give me the money and don't be a hero" as he threatened Knoole with the knife.

Knoole reportedly said "OK" and turned from the alleged robber and walked into the backroom and closed the door behind himself.

Moments later, Knoole reportedly heard the lodge's front door close and the suspect was gone. Gallup police officers searched the area surrounding the location, but did not locate the suspect. There were no surveillance cameras inside the business, located at 3275 W. Highway 66, to record the incident.

The individual is described as Native American, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds and was wearing a tan pull-over shirt, black jeans, tan gloves and a camouflage ski mask.

Stabbing
GALLUP — A 43-year-old Shiprock man was stabbed four times inside a Gallup hotel room.

Police found Daniel Allen laying in the front desk area of the Days Inn, 1603 W. Highway 66.

Allen sustained four stab wounds to his stomach and one stab wound to his left leg. When questioned about the incident, Allen allegedly refused to cooperate with police officers and continued to shout obscenities.

He was then transported to RMCH for medical treatment. His condition was not known, as of press time.

A Days Inn front desk clerk told officers that Allen, along with another man, walked inside the lobby and that Allen showed her that he was bleeding.

The man who accompanied Allen said the stabbing occurred inside a Days Inn motel room, but that he did not know who committed the stabbing because he was asleep throughout the incident.

When the man saw police arrive at the inn, he reportedly fled on foot from the lobby area.

Gallup detectives are conducting an on-going investigation.


Student suspended
GALLUP — A 10-year-old Gallup boy was suspended from Red Rock elementary on Thursday for allegedly bringing a knife to school.

Classmates informed a teacher after the boy showed the folding knife with a 3-inch blade to several students.

The boy was suspended and was released to his parents. The knife was booked into evidence at the Gallup Police Department. A disciplinary hearing, regarding the incident, is pending.

Liquor violation
A 50-year-old Class Act employee was cited on Sunday by Gallup police for selling alcohol to an intoxicated customer.

During an alcohol compliance sting, an officer noticed server Andrew Escamilla serve alcohol to a reportedly intoxicated 50-year-old Frederick Henry, of Chinle.

Henry registered a . 20 when given a portable breathalyzer test to determine his blood-alcohol content. The legal limit is .08. Henry was transported to NCI due to his condition and officers' concern for his safety.