Bad data leads to arrest of Speaker

Navajo Nation Speaker Lawrence Morgan was arrested Thursday after being stopped for an alleged traffic violation. A snafu with a crime data base falsely indicated Morgan had an outstanding warrant. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Newly re-elected Speaker Lawrence T. Morgan was arrested Thursday evening after a traffic violation exposed an outstanding warrant that turned out to have been dismissed almost eight years ago.

Morgan was pulled over by Navajo Nation police around 5:40 p.m. after running a stop sign outside the Council chamber offices. When police ran a standard check on Morgan's driver's license, the system showed that he had he had an outstanding bench warrant for his arrest.

Morgan was transported to the Window Rock Detention Center, where he posted the $50 bail the same night.

Police records show that the warrant was issued after Morgan failed to appear for an arraignment for hauling livestock with no permit in 1997. However, Friday morning, officials from the Prosecutor's office discovered that the warrant was dismissed in 1999 by the District Court, though the information was never updated in the National Crime Information Center database.

"Unfortunately, these incidences happen," said Leonard Livingston, senior prosecutor.

Morgan is entitled to get a refund for his $50 bail fee.