National attention
All eyes on Gallup as dragging victim's condition remains critical

Dried blood and gouged pavement mark the gruesome scene where Fausto Arellano was tied to the back of a vehicle and dragged down Patton Street Sunday morning in Gallup. Arellano is at University Hospital in Albuquerque in critical condition. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A trail of blood that stains the pavement along Dairy Drive serves as an eerie reminder of Sunday's dragging of a Gallup man for more than a mile.

Fausto Arellano, 32, was bound by the ankles, strapped to a pick-up truck and dragged for at least a mile before he was abandoned in the Lot-A-Burger east parking lot at about 4 a.m. Easter morning.

Gallup Detective Erin Pablo said Arellano remains in critical condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. He sustained burns to nearly 50 percent of his body.

"His condition hasn't deteriorated, but he's still in critical condition," she said.

A Conoco convenience store employee called police after the critically injured father of two was discovered in the nearby parking lot. He was airlifted to Albuquerque from Gallup.

No motive for the dragging has been established. However, detectives continue interviews with witnesses to the incident and with Arellano's family members, Pablo said.

Pablo said the department has received several promising leads through the CrimeStoppers hotline since the incident.

"We've been following up on some good leads," she said. "We're beginning to narrow it down."

City Manager Eric Honeyfield offered his condolences to the Arellano family.

"That whole situation is horrible," Honeyfield said. He said crimes such as Sunday's are not a common occurrence within Gallup.

"These kinds of crimes are unique and seldom happen, but are still shocking," he said.

Pablo said the department's three detectives worked until 11 p.m. Sunday night and hope to arrest whoever is responsible for the dragging soon.

"We want to give the family some sort of comfort," she said.

A pair of witnesses to the incident reported Arellano was dragged by a red a pick-up truck with tinted windows. Pablo said detectives are looking for a red full-size Dodge pick-up that may have been involved.

Pablo said Arellano attended a birthday party at the Lion's Club prior to the incident. A member of the band playing at the party drove Arellano home at about 3 a.m. and noticed no suspicious vehicles or behavior on Arellano's part.

Pablo said investigators traveled to Albuquerque on Monday afternoon to interview Arellano at his bed side. But the critically injured man was unable to speak or provide any additional information due to his condition.

"He's still heavily sedated," said Police Chief Sylvester Stanley.

The incident has received national media attention and Stanley was interviewed on Tuesday morning by "Today Show" host Matt Lauer regarding the dragging. Stanley said media outlets are implying the crime was racially motivated. However, he said little evidence exists to substantiate the theory.

"That's the only reason the big media outlets are calling," Stanley said. "There is nothing that indicates this is a hate crime. We've had no new information in this case since Monday."

Family and friends filled a waiting room and lined hallways at the hospital, wondering if the father of two would survive.

"He's always been a fighter. He's gotta fight this one," said friend Edna Garcia. "We're just out here guessing. We just sit here and pray."

Anyone with information regarding the dragging, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 722-6161.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.