‘Was there a stop sign?’

By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — When Sheryl Begay was stopped by a deputy sheriff Thursday on a traffic stop, she did the first thing that came to her mind — she jumped out of her car and decided to avoid arrest by running.

This was probably not the wisest move since backup officers had already arrived on the scene and within minutes she was in custody, facing not only traffic charges but also for resisting arrest and evading an officer.

It began when Deputy Salma Burriel was park on Draco near Marble in Gamerco about 12:34 p.m. and noticed a car go through a stop sign. When she stopped the car, the driver stuck her head out the window and yelled, “Was there a stop sign there?”

Yes there was, but what wasn’t at the scene was a driver with a driver’s license. Begay told the officer she didn’t have one, nor did she have any identification on her so Begay verbally gave the officer her birth date and Social Security number. But when Burriel checked, she discovered no name and birth date in the state records.

But there was another Sheryl Begay listed in Gallup but this Begay was wanted on a warrant for a suspended or revoked driver’s license. While the officer was getting confirmation. Begay exited the vehicle and started running west into an alley.

“I then engaged in a foot pursuit,” Burriel said.

She ordered Begay to stop several times but Begay continued running, until she came to the end of the alley.

She then fled south into a dirt field. By that time, other officers had arrived on the scene and were able to apprehend her.

More charges may be pending. When Begay was being processed, officers checked her purse and discovered several syringes and an envelope with unknown contents.
Explicit photos

In another case, sheriff detectives are investigating what could be called “The case of the explicit photos.”

It began a couple of days ago when the father of a 15-year-old Gallup girl took away his daughter’s cell phone for punishment. While examining the phone, he discovered nude photos of her in the cell phone’s memory. He also found several area men which also included photos sent by them. Two of the photos showed explicit photos of the men, both of whom were 21 years of age.

Deputies talked to the girl, who said that the photos of her were taken by a girlfriend. Deputies also determined that the men who sent her explicit photos knew she was underage. The girl also told deputies that she had never met either of the men who sent her explicit photos. Nor had she sent them nude photos of her. The girl told deputies that she would be willing to assist in any investigation that is undertaken. An investigation is under way.