5 arrested in Gallup drug bust

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Local narcotics agents have arrested five Gallup residents in connection with the possession and trafficking of illegal drugs in the area.

Adam Evans, Warren Adams and Denise Hanson were arrested on Jan. 25 on charges of possession of methamphedamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They were also charged with trafficking a controlled substance.

Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, said the agents executed an arrest warrant at 1506 Cliff Drive and found the illegal substances. A 3-year-old child who was at the residence was also taken into protective custody.

Agents arrested Ratasharae Garcia and Jacob Baca on possession and trafficking charges on Thursday. Toadlena-Pablo said Garcia sold an undisclosed amount of cocaine to an undercover agent at the 700 block of West Aztec.

The suspects' ages were not released. Toadlena-Pablo said the investigations are ongoing.


Suspects in beating waive preliminary hearings
In other news, the two men arrested last month in connection with the robbery and beating of a local pizza delivery man, waived their rights to a preliminary hearing on the matter.

The cases against Brandon Antone and Lorenzo Silas will proceed to district court, Assistant District Attorney Kerry Comiskey said on Friday.

Antone and Silas reportedly waived their preliminary hearings in magistrate court this week pursuant to an unofficial plea agreement.

Comiskey said the agreements will not become official until the case is forwarded to district court. The details of the agreements were not released. Antone remains in custody at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center.


Police searching for two McKinley County men
Gallup police are looking for two men who are wanted on oustanding bench warrants that total more than $100,000.

Nolan Notah, 26, of Tohatchi, is wanted on a $60,000 cash or surety bond. Toadlena-Pablo said Notah is facing eight charges of embezzlement and five counts of conspiracy in connection with his tenure as an employee at Gallup Lumber,

Gallup resident Chris M. Diaz, 41, is wanted on a $50,000 cash only bond in connection with the alleged abuse of his 17-year-old daughter.

Diaz reported the girl missing late last month. The girl reportedly disappeared because she had been abused by her father since she was 13 years old, Toadlena-Pablo said. She has returned to the area. However, Diaz's whereabouts are unknown. Diaz is facing a charge of aggravated battery against a household member.

Anyone with information about the men, are asked to call Metropolitan Dispatch at 722-2231.