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Police log for 12/05/07

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Trespassing

A possible street-level alcoholic was found sleeping on a couch inside a home that wasn't his Sunday. According to Flagstaff police reports, the victim left his North Monte Vista Drive apartment at about 6:30 p.m. with his wife and two small children, and when they returned about an hour later they found the man on their couch, refusing to leave. The responding officer recognized the man, who had soiled clothes and smelled of alcohol, but the victim said he didn't want to press charges and only wanted the man to leave, reports stated.

The man was released with no criminal charges.

Shoplifting

A man was arrested for allegedly trying to steal more than $100 in groceries Sunday.

According to Flagstaff police reports, a loss prevention officer at Safeway, 1500 E. Cedar Ave., stopped the man as he left the store with a basket containing $136.97 worth of food and alcohol. He said he stole because he had no money or job, reports stated.

The man, 23, was cited and released for misdemeanor shoplifting.

Charged with DUI

Two men were arrested for drunk driving during the same stop Monday after an officer saw them switch car seats.

According to Flagstaff police reports, at about 8:12 p.m., an officer saw a car pull out of a Beaver Street bar and begin traveling northbound on the southbound-only street, then switch to reverse and head back for the bar parking lot. As the officer pulled up alongside the car, he saw the driver and passenger switch seats, reports stated.

The passenger, who was the original driver, smelled of alcohol and failed field sobriety tests, reports stated. The man in the driver's seat also failed sobriety tests, and because he was in physical control of the car and said "Ya, I was driving" when asked if he intended on driving home, he was also arrested for drunk driving.

Kenneth Batala, 62, of Second Mesa, and Benjamin Gonzalez, 47, 1515 S. Yale St., Apt. 7-3, were both booked into the Coconino County jail for extreme DUI. Batala was also issued civil traffic tickets for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and unsafe backing.

City and county residents who want to report a crime but wish to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 774-6111 or (877) 29-CRIME. Rewards of up to $2,000 are given for information that leads to an arrest.

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