A 34-year-old man has been charged with burglary after police alleged he forced open a sliding door and entered a Walmart store after hours in Farmington, according to a statement of probable cause filed in court.

The incident was reported March 16, 2026, and the case was filed March 17 in Farmington Magistrate Court.

Dispatch Call to Retail Store

According to the statement of probable cause, a Farmington police officer was dispatched around 1:47 a.m. to a Walmart store in reference to a male who had forcefully opened the front door and entered the business.

A store employee reported that the man had opened the sliding door on the grocery-side entrance and walked into the business after hours. The employee told police he had to escort the male off the property.

Return to the Store Reported

About 30 minutes later, dispatch advised the officer that the same man had returned to the store and again opened the same sliding door and entered the building, according to the document.

The store employee told police the door has a lock but that if enough force is applied, the lock can pop off and the sliding doors open.

Contact With the Suspect

Police reported locating the man in a bathroom at the front of the store. The individual was identified as Elbert Begaye.

According to the statement of probable cause, an officer asked the defendant what time he thought it was, and he responded midnight. When asked what time Walmart closed, he also said midnight.

Item Taken From Store

While placing the defendant in handcuffs, the officer reported seeing a bottle of mouthwash in the defendant’s jacket pocket. The item was removed.

A store employee told police he had seen the defendant take the mouthwash before going into the bathroom. A receipt provided to police showed the item cost $3.98.

After returning the item and collecting the receipt, officers transported the defendant to the San Juan County Adult Detention Center, where he was booked, according to the report.

Charges Filed

• Burglary
• Breaking and entering
• Shoplifting

The charge comes amid a separate San Juan County case involving alleged violations tied to a SCRAM monitoring device, according to court records.

Case Status

A preliminary examination in the case is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Farmington Magistrate Court.

Source

Statement of Probable Cause and Notice of Preliminary Examination filed in Farmington Magistrate Court.

Elbert Begaye is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are allegations. No determination of guilt has been made.