Pubdate: Thu, 30 Mar 2006
Source: Farmington Daily Times (NM)
Copyright: 2006 Farmington Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.daily-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/951
Author: Ryan Hall
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have  not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public  figures or officials.

A FAMILY IN TROUBLE

Three Generations Arrested For Dealing Meth

FARMINGTON -- Three generations of a Navajo family, including an 
81-year-old great-grandmother, will make an initial appearance in 
federal court today on charges of dealing methamphetamine, according 
to Navajo Nation police.

[Name redacted], 81, daughter [Name redacted], 63, and granddaughter 
[Name redacted], 39, were arrested Thursday at their Dilkon, Ariz., 
home, according to a release issued by the Office of the Navajo 
Nation President.

[Name redacted]'s 1-year-old daughter was also in the home at the 
time. Her 5-year-old son was reportedly at a Navajo Headstart program 
when the arrest was made.

All three suspects were charged with one count of possession of a 
controlled substance with intent to distribute and will make their 
initial appearance in federal magistrate court today in Flagstaff, 
according to Officer Walter Bighorse of the Navajo Nation Police, 
Criminal Investigations.

Bighorse noted that officers took extra care in arresting [Name 
redacted], who he said was the oldest suspected meth dealer his 
department has arrested.

"That's very rare, this is actually the first one (in their 80s) 
we've encountered," he said. "We took every precaution that was 
necessary for her."

[Name redacted], who is reputed to be a "hand trembler," a Navajo 
traditional diagnostician, was treated carefully during the arrest, 
Wilbur said. He added she was handcuffed in a different manner than 
is usually used, and pictures provided by the president's office show 
[Name redacted]with her hands cuffed in front of her.

Methamphetamine and marijuana were found at [Name redacted]'s 
residence during a recent search and the great-grandmother reportedly 
acknowledged dealing for approximately a year, according to the release.

Police had been investigating the family for more than two and a half 
years prior to the arrest, Wilbur said.

In the release, Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. expressed 
concern at the news of the arrest of a Navajo elder for allegedly dealing meth.

"As Navajos, we look up to our elders for all of our teachings, and 
it's wrong for her to be doing this," he said. "Our elders have 
always given us good teachings so that we can maintain what we have 
and what we're losing. Who knows how many families these people have harmed?"

Following their initial appearance in federal magistrate court, the 
three suspects will have a preliminary hearing Friday in Flagstaff, 
according to Wilbur.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman