Man accused of attempted rape at motel

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Police arrested a Window Rock, Ariz., man early Wednesday morning on charges of attempted rape.

Kevin Jim was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on a felony charge of criminal sexual assault after he allegedly attacked a woman inside her room at the Sunset Motel at 1305 W. Hwy. 66. Jim's age was not immediately available.

Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, said the adult woman allowed two acquaintances, one of whom was identified as Jim, inside her room late Tuesday night. While the woman was inside the bathroom, Jim reportedly shoved his way inside and made sexual advances toward her. Toadlena-Pablo said the woman fought the man's advances and ran into the main room.

Jim then allegedly threw the woman onto the bed and attempted to assault her sexually. The woman continued to fight Jim and was able to escape from the room. The woman then contacted police who later found Jim walking in the area early Wednesday morning. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the local jail.

Toadlena-Pablo said the woman was not injured during the attack and refused medical treatment. Toadlena-Pablo had no information as to whether alcohol was involved in the incident.


Drug bust
GALLUP A 39-year-old man was arrested Monday after State Motor Transportation officers found 3,362 pounds of marijuana hidden in a compartment of a tractor-trailer rig west of Gallup.

The driver's records raised the suspicion of an inspector because the trailer was 2 feet longer than the driver's log indicated, according to Bobby Baca, commander of the Gallup port of entry.

A drug-sniffing dog alerted to the trailer, and officials found the marijuana inside among toys and other children's items, Baca said.

Authorities identified the driver as Jesus M. Diaz, who turned 39 Tuesday. Diaz was arrested for possession of narcotics with intent to distribute.