Cops stop Gamerco burglaries

By Leslie Wood
Staff Write

GALLUP — Sometimes the holidays are overshadowed by an influx in criminal activity. However, Lt. Roger Mace said a pair of sheriff's deputies worked successfully to reduce those numbers this year.

On Dec. 27 at about 4 p.m., officers were dispatched to Remnant Road regarding a fight between 23-year-old Geno Mescal and 17-year-old Chermayne Largo. When Deputy Everett Howe arrived at the scene to assist Navajo Police, he learned that the situation was potentially suicidal.

"Deputy Everett Howe assisted Navajo Police on a call of a domestic dispute, which turned out to be a citizen who was overwhelmed with problems and was contemplating suicide," Mace said.

Mescal reportedly remained uncooperative and repeatedly threatened to cut his wrist, until Howe persuaded him to put the knife away. Mescal was transported to the Gallup Indian Medical Center for professional help and the case was referred to the Crownpoint Police Department.

In a second incident on Dec. 21, officers arrived at the 300 block of Crystal Avenue in Gamerco after 48-year-old Alta Bahe reported an unknown individual broke into a shed near her home. A portable welder, chain saw and metal chop saw were some of the items that were taken from the shed, according to a police report. A total of $830 worth of tools were reportedly taken from the unlocked shed.

Cpl. Ron Williams and Deputy Marlon Tolbertsond reportedly found shoe prints that led from Crystal Avenue to the southern edge of the Bahe property line and to and from the shed. The same tracks were also located at the corner of Ironwood and Crystal and at 607 Thunderbird.

A short time later, deputies were dispatched to 301 Summit in reference to another report of a burglary. According to a police report, a cooking stove had been stolen from the location. The suspect allegedly backed a vehicle up to the front door and loaded the stove inside.

Williams reportedly found the same shoe prints from the Crystal Avenue robbery at the Summit residence. He also discovered that the vehicle's tire prints were mismatched the right tire featured a mud-type tire and the left, a street tire. Deputies, who were investigating the pair of burglaries, reportedly returned to the 607 Thunderbird location as a blue Ford pick-up pulled up to the location. The pickup's tires matched the mis-matched prints that were found at 301 Summit.

According to a police report, Tolbertson had been in the area looking for a suspect who was believed to be responsible for a burglary involving hand tools earlier in the week.

The suspect was located and his shoe prints reportedly matched those at the Crystal and Summit scenes. Ruben Morales, of Gamerco, was arrested on two outstanding warrants.

"While investigating a residential burglary, Corporal Williams and Deputy Tolberson meticulously followed up on some evidence that led to the arrest of a suspect," Mace said. "Consequently the burglaries in the Gamerco area have stopped."