Pinehill Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Tribal Police Officer with a Dangerous Weapon

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Warren R. Dooley, 52, a member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Pinehill, New Mexico, entered a guilty plea to an assault with a dangerous weapon charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. At sentencing, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Dooley remains on conditions of release under pretrial supervision pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Dooley pled guilty to assaulting a tribal police officer for the Ramah Navajo Chapter, Ramah Band of the Navajo Tribe, on May 4, 2011, by repeatedly ramming his car into the patrol car occupied by the tribal police officer. The attack occurred in Pinehill, which is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation.

Dooley initially was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in a criminal complaint that was filed on May 9, 2011 and was arrested on June 20, 2011. On July 13, 2011, Dooley was indicted and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (count one) and assaulting a federal officer or employee with a dangerous weapon (count two). Dooley entered a guilty plea to count one during this morning’s hearing. Under the terms of the plea agreement, count two will be dismissed after Dooley is sentenced.

According to court filings, on May 4, 2011, a tribal police officer arrived at Dooley’s Pinehill residence in a clearly marked patrol car in response to a domestic violence call made by Dooley’s wife. When the officer arrived at Dooley’s residence, Dooley was sitting in his vehicle and refused to get out of it as directed by the officer. Instead, Dooley drove away at a high rate of speed, and the officer pursued him. At the end of the road, Dooley stopped, turned his vehicle around, and accelerated back toward the officer’s patrol car. Although the officer turned off the road and drove into a field in order to avoid being struck by Dooley’s car, Dooley pursued the officer and rammed his car into the officer’s patrol car, flipping the patrol car on its side. Dooley rammed his car into the patrol car with the officer still inside for a second time. Dooley attempted to ram the patrol car a third time but was unable to do so because his car burst into flames. Dooley managed to get out of his burning vehicle and was arrested shortly thereafter by the officer. Despite the nature of the attack, the officer suffered relatively minor injuries.

In his plea agreement, Dooley admitted assaulting the tribal police officer with a dangerous weapon and with the intention of causing him serious bodily harm.

Dooley has been sentenced.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark T. Baker.