Burnside man beaten in gang fight
Brawl ended in police parking log

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

FORT DEFIANCE — A 33-year-old Burnside man was airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque for treatment of head trauma following a gang fight that began at the Conoco in Fort Defiance and ended in the parking lot of the Navajo Division of Law Enforcement in Window Rock.

Criminal Investigator Alvernon Tsosie of Window Rock Police District and Special Agent Nick Manns of the Gallup FBI office were called to investigate the incident which occurred around 9:15 p.m. Jan. 2.

According to investigators, the victim who isn't named for his own protection along with other Cobra gang members, was harassing several people at the Conoco. This led to the Cobras assaulting a driver and passengers in the vehicle, damaging the front windshield.

The driver and passengers sped away from the parking lot to flee the Cobras, who pursued them in a vehicle chase that led from Navajo Route 112 in Fort Defiance to State Route 264 in St. Michaels. The driver then headed east to the police department.

Along the way, the Cobras sideswiped the fleeing vehicle, attempting to force it off the roadway, according to investigators. The pursuit ended at the police department parking lot, where one of the individuals involved sought assistance from Law Enforcement officers.

According to the report, Sgt. Louis Anderson responded to the scene in the parking lot, where the victim threw a beer bottle, shattering the rear window of the driver's vehicle. Sgt. Anderson then saw the driver hitting the victim with a bat and saw the victim fall to the ground.

Anderson detained the driver and passengers. Cobra members fled the scene but were later apprehended by Navajo Nation Police.

The victim suffered a head injury and was taken to Fort Defiance Public Health Service for treatment. He was stabilized and flown to University of New Mexico Hospital.


EMT charged in domestic
DILKON — A employed by the Navajo Nation as an Emergency Medical Technician was arrested Friday on a federal warrant and transported to Coconino County Detention Facility following a domestic dispute.

According to Criminal Investigator Walter Bighorse of Dilkon Police District and Patrol Officer Marlin Bichitty, the suspect identified as Kelleigh Lee Lyons, 25, of Dilkon allegedly came home from Winslow and proceeded to beat, kick and drag his girlfriend around by the hair. The victim, identified as Terri A. Joe, also of Dilkon, was taken to Hopi Health Care Center for treatment.

On Jan. 13, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Lodge was contacted and approved a criminal complaint for the suspect. Investigator Bighorse swore to the criminal complaint and a federal warrant for Joe was issued. He was apprehended the following day.


Exposure death
SHIPROCK — The body of 41-year-old Billy Wauneka Jr. of Shiprock was found Jan. 13 inside a culvert along U.S. Highway 491 south of Shiprock at milepost 88.9.

According to Criminal Investigator Sammy Ahkeah and Patrol Officer James Hale, Wauneka had been consuming alcohol and died from exposure.

Aggravated battery
NAVAJO, N.M. — Agents from the FBI's Gallup Resident Agency office and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigator Alvernon Tsosie are investigating the Jan. 1 assault of a Navajo, N.M. man.

According to investigators, Jefferson Joe, 37, was assaulted by two suspects at a residence located on Spruce Street following an argument. Joe left the residence and later returned with two of his nephews.

The argument which began earlier continued, resulting in Joe's being struck on the head with a gas stove iron grill, and beat about the body with a bat. As he was fleeing the scene, some unknown subjects damaged Joe's vehicle, according to the report.

Joe's nephews drove him to Fort Defiance Public Health Service Emergency Room for medical treatment.