Teen receives electrical burns
Property damage increases in city over the weekend

MedStar ambulance crews transport a 16-year-old boy to an air ambulance on Tuesday at the Gallup Municipal Airport before he is flown to Albuquerque. The teen touched a live electrical line near the Tsayatoh Chapter House and suffered severe burns. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 16-year-old boy was airlifted to Albuquerque on Tuesday afternoon for treatment of burns he sustained by touching a Tsayatoh power source.

Lt. Rudy Nez, of the McKinley West Fire Department, said the boy and his older brother were walking through a rural area located behind the Tsayatoh Chapter House when he somehow came into contact with the district's main power source.

Nez said the boy, whose name was withheld pending notification of next kin, touched the electrical line, which caused second-degree burns to his legs and an arm.

The older brother reportedly pulled the boy into his vehicle and notified police of the emergency at about 2:15 p.m. Nez said McKinley West and EMS ambulance officials had difficulty locating the boys and their vehicle due the remoteness of the location.

Metropolitan Dispatchers called for an Albuquerque helicopter to meet emergency personnel at the Gallup Municipal Airport to transport the boy to University of New Mexico's burn unit a short time after.

Nez said the boy was alert inside the ambulance, but it is too soon to determine the extent of his injuries.

"There is no telling his injuries," Nez said. "There could be some internal damage."

He said the incident should serve as a caution to individuals who may be curious about powerlines.

"Hopefully, kids will remember they can't touch the lines," Nez said.

Property crimes rising
GALLUP — Law Enforcement officials reported a string of property damage this weekend that included graffiti and vandalism, according to a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department.
Detective Erin Toadlena-Pablo said the increase in calls related to property damage started on Friday and remained steady until Sunday.

The following is a list of the residences, city property and businesses that reported damage:

• City of Gallup electric department, 1714 South Second Street
• Mesa View Plaza, 1113 U.S. Hwy. 491
• a residence located at the 500 block of Grandview
• Red Shell, 118 W. Hwy. 66
• stop signs located at the intersection of East Aztec Avenue and McKinley Drive
• Pet Paradise, 1100 Block of East Aztec
• Hillcrest Trailer Park, 2410 E. Aztec

Toadlena-Pablo said someone also damaged a Ford Mustang that was parked at Applebees Restaurant on Sunday. And in another incident, an unknown individual poured sugar into a car owner's gas tank at the 1600 block of West Maloney.

She said the graffiti that damaged several locations shared common characteristics, such as the letters "ESC" and the word "Lucky."

CrimeStoppers, 722-6161, is offering a cash reward to the individual that provides information to authorities that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Gallup firefighters also responded to a minor fire at the Pinon Hills apartments on Sunday.

Toadlena-Pablo said the homeowners tried to extinguish the blaze, but were overwhelmed with smoke. The apartment sustained heavy damaged to its living room, but did not spread to other areas.

The homeowners' 3-year-old son reportedly started the blaze by playing with matches, she said.