McKinley County takes bite out of crime

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — Overall crime in McKinley County went down during 2008, but investigators at McKinley County Sheriff’s Department are looking to the public for help solving several cases that went cold.

Violent crimes like assault and battery fell from 329 during 2007 to 229 last year, while rapes quadrupled from two during 2007 to eight during 2008, according to statistics compiled by McKinley County, which do not include calls to Gallup Police Department.

“This is a benchmark,” McKinley County Sheriff Frank Gonzales said. “Have they all gone to court and been tried? I couldn’t tell you that.”

Arson cases fell from 18 during 2007 to seven during 2008 and great bodily injuries/fatalities fell 50 percent from 12 during 2007 to six last year. Thefts such as burglary, larceny and robbery decreased slightly; while white-collar thefts such as fraud, embezzlement and counterfeiting increased slightly. Car thefts fell substantially from 28 during 2007 to just eight during 2008.

Deputies handed out fewer traffic citations, responded to more domestic violence and child abuse calls and investigated two murders during 2008.

Missing persons stayed about the same, with 32 during 2007 and 26 during 2008. DWI offenses also stayed the same, with about 450 both years.

When an investigation reaches an impasse and the clues run out, the case is said to have gone cold. Below are cold cases from 2008, according to McKinley County Chief Investigator Sgt. Albert Benally.

• On April 2, a man stole a white money bag containing about $5,000 from Giant convenience in Tse Bonito. The cashier working at the time had just finished preparing a deposit and left the money bag in the back office. When she returned to the office about 30 minutes later, the cash was gone. Surveillance footage showed a Native American male walk into the office and take the money, and then exit through a back door. The man looked to be about 5 feet 8 inches tall. He was wearing a white T-shirt with an American flag embroidered on the front, blue jeans and a baseball cap.

• On April 4, a person or people broke into a Thoreau home and stole more than $16,000 worth of guns, jewelry and electronics.

• On Aug. 31, a 70-year-old man was changing a flat tire near Churchrock when three people attacked him and stole items from his car.

• On Oct. 11, a Saturday morning, two men waited outside Navajo Shopping Center for its first employees to arrive. The men forced the employees at gunpoint to open a vault shared by three businesses including the U.S. Postal Service. They used packing tape to restrain the employees, and then stole an estimated $150,000. The robbers are described as Hispanic and each standing between 5 feet and 5 feet 6 inches tall. One of them had a tattoo on his neck. Investigators said they have two suspects, but are still looking for more information from citizens. In addition to the Crimestoppers reward, a $50,000 reward is being offered by the US Postal Service for information leading to an arrest.

• On Dec. 17, Ruben Morales, 37, of Gamerco, allegedly stole a blue 2007 Nissan Altima he had been hired to clean. Investigators have been unable to locate Morales, leading them to believe he may have taken the car to Mexico.

• On Christmas Day one or more than one suspect broke into a Yatahey home and stole an estimated $14,000 worth of guns, jewelry and electronics. Residents of the 29A Cleki address were away for the holiday.

• On Dec. 29, 2008, two people broke into Rimrock Pawn on N.M. 264 east of Window Rock. They broke through the east wall after hours and stole an estimated $4,000 in jewelry. Investigators suspect a pair because two sets of footprints, a pair of Nike sneakers and a pair of work boots, were found outside.

Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in any one these cases. Crimestoppers in Gallup can be reached at (505) 722-6161.