Grants woman arrested on marijuana charge

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A 36-year-old woman was arrested on April 22 by a police officer after he allegedly saw her attempting to throw glass pipes used for smoking marijuana out the back window of her apartment.

Gloria Hechilay, 36, of Glass Ave., Apt. 2, faces a preliminary trial hearing on June 26 in Cibola County Magistrate Court in connection with possession of marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence.

Police responded to an anonymous call of marijuana being smoked at the address and when they arrived, they knocked on the door several times, announcing themselves. Hechilay eventually looked out the window of her apartment and opened the door, according to Magistrate Court records.

She told the officers they could not come into her apartment without a warrant. Then she said she had to turn off a heater in the back room and walked to that room leaving the door open, court records state.

With the door open, the officers could smell the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the apartment, court records state.

The officers followed Hechilay to the back room and allegedly witnessed her attempt to toss the pipes, court records state.

Lt. Corey Allen, spokesman for Grants Police, said the officers followed her because of "officer safety," even though she told officers they could not enter without a warrant.

"You don't want her going to the back room and pulling a gun. Then you have a problem," he said.

"The officers are responsible for themselves and their partner's safety," Allen said. "They entered for their own protection.

"Her actions dictate what the officers do next," he said.

There were two glass pipes. In a trash can in the same room were empty baggies with residue of a green leafy substance that later was identified as marijuana. There was marijuana residue in the pipes as well, according to court records.

After she was arrested, officers found a small baggy with 1.2 grams of a green leafy substance that also was later identified as marijuana.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197, or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.