Shiprock Woman Charged with Assaulting Federal Officer, Endangering Three Children

ALBUQUERQUE - A Shiprock woman has been charged with assaulting a federal officer after allegedly running over a Navajo Police Department officer with a vehicle and fleeing the scene with three young children inside.

According to court documents, on August 21, 2026, Alondria Hope Benally, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted a Navajo Police Department officer at a shopping center parking lot in Shiprock, New Mexico. The officer initially responded to reports of a drunk driver in a white SUV with three young children inside. When the officer arrived and attempted to question Benally, she smelled alcohol on her. The officer observed three minor children, two of whom were unrestrained inside the running vehicle.

When the officer attempted to detain Benally to prevent her from fleeing, Benally put the vehicle in gear, crashing into the police unit. As the officer attempted to pull her from the vehicle, Benally stepped on the gas and turned the vehicle's wheel causing the officer to fall under the vehicle. The officer's right leg was run over by the vehicle before Benally drove away down Highway 491.

The officer suffered injuries, including a chipped bone in her right leg, extreme pain, and widespread abrasions. Responding officers located Benally and attempted a traffic stop. Benally led police on a high-speed pursuit exceeding 80 mph through the Navajo Nation with the three young minors in her vehicle. Officers ultimately detained Benally, and they observed damage to her vehicle's front passenger fender consistent with the assault.

Benally is charged with assaulting a federal officer and three counts of child abuse. She will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Benally faces up to 20 years in prison on the assault and up to three years imprisonment on the counts of child abuse.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allysa B. Gambarella is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.