Tuba City man leads police on wild chase

Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — An 18-year old Tuba City man was arrested last week after he fled police.

Harold McCabe III allegedly lead police throughout south Tuba City on a car chase and then on foot before officers were able to arrest him in the early morning hours on July 2.

At 5 a.m. Navajo Nation Police responded to a report of an accident with injuries four miles west of Tuba City on Moenave Road.

As officers were en route, a black 2004 Nissan Exterra with Arizona plates passed by officers going east at a high rate of speed without its headlights.

Officers noticed it had been rolled due to heavy bodily damage.

Officers pursued the vehicle, attempting two times to spike the vehicle. Both times, the vehicle swerved around the spikes and continued speeding.

The vehicle eventually went off-road and stopped one-half mile east of the old Arizona Public Service substation.

The driver, McCabe, fled on foot.

Officers used a K-9 unit to find McCabe hiding in the underbrush.

When officers shined a flashlight on McCabe, he fled again.

Officers asked McCabe to stop twice or they would release their dog.

McCabe continued to run and officers released the K-9 unit.

The K-9 unit bit McCabe on the leg and held him until officers could arrest him.

McCabe was treated and released from the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation and then booked into jail for leaving the scene of an accident, unlawful flight, reckless driving, obstructing justice, and criminal nuisance.


Hit and run fatality
A hit and run accident left one Rough Rock resident dead and her husband injured last week.

Witnesses report a brown-colored van was attempting to pass a white van on State Route 264, near mile post 458 in Cross Canyon, but oncoming traffic forced the brown van back into the east bound lane.

As it did, the brown van struck the left rear area of the white van.

The white van lost control and rolled off the roadway.

Rita Wagner, 60, was taken to Fort Defiance Indian Hospital, where she later died.

Her husband, Francis, 83, was treated for injuries at Phoenix Area Hospital.

The brown van left the scene of the accident and has not been located.


Mobile home rollover
Shiprock resident Andrew Bitsui and his family of 11 children, ages 9-years old through 18-years old, lost their home during a sand storm on June 28.

The trailer home was severely damaged during a sand storm when it turned over on its top with the family still inside.

Four family members were treated for injuries and the family has requested aid.