Clerk locks would-be robbers out of store

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Three men may face federal charges for an attempted robbery on the Mustang store at Burnside Junction in Ganado on March 20.

According to Navajo Nation police, one man covered his face with a bandanna and walked into the store demanding money from the cashier.

The man faltered and he left the store when the cashier questioned him. The cashier then locked the store doors and called the police.

The three would-be robbers banged on the doors trying to get in. When Navajo police showed up, they fled on foot but were later arrested.

The investigation is ongoing.

Drug bust on I-40

A traffic stop for speeding yielded 211 lbs. of marijuana and a small amount of cocaine in a vehicle traveling on Interstate Highway 40 near Sanders on March 28, according to Navajo Nation Police.

Three Phoenix individuals on their way to Nebraska were arrested for transporting marijuana for sale after the Navajo Nation’s K9 unit found the concealed drugs.

After being issued a citation by Navajo Police, the driver gave consent for a search of the vehicle and the K9 was deployed. The case has been turned over to the Apache County Drug Task Force.

Standoff

A man’s threat to commit suicide in Jeddito brought in the Navajo Law Enforcement, a Navajo County Sheriff’s deputy and the tribe’s Special Response Teams from Chinle and Window Rock.

Navajo Nation law enforcement officers and a paramedic attempted to negotiate with Lawrence J. Balkenbush for hours when he barricaded himself into his residence March 27 and threatened to kill himself, according to Navajo Nation police reports on the incident.

At one point, the man had come out of the home with a towel wrapped around an object saying he had a gun. The special response teams were called to end the standoff after Balkenbush threatened to shoot anyone who came into the residence.

The teams entered the home and took the man into custody. He was turned over to the Navajo County Sheriff’s deputy at the scene and taken to a local medical center.

Also on-site were the fire department and Hopi emergency medical services.

Officer kills dog

A Navajo Police officer shot and killed a dog that advanced on him as he was responding to a disturbance call on April 3.

The officer “had to bang on the door several times” trying to get a response from inside the Sanostee home. When the door opened, a dog came out and started barking and exposing its teeth

The dog tried to nip at the officer and the officer shot the dog.