GRANTS - The Navajo Nation is reaching out to the Native Americans targeted in the recent spree of beatings. Meanwhile, the Grants Police Department continues the manhunt for clues and evidence to make the next arrest.

The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission has contacted GPD's Chief Steve Sena and arranged a meeting in light of the attacks. The goal is to formalize a partnership to jointly address racial discrimination in the city.

“We're trying to look at it from a long term perspective,” said Sherre Peshlakai of the commission. “This is not something that is going away right away.”

The commission was formed almost a year ago to meet with bordering towns of the Navajo Nation to discuss the relationship between Navajo and non-Navajo people. The human rights group had been scheduled to come to Grants on July 23, she said, long before the hate crimes surfaced.

On July 8, a visit will be made to the GPD office to work out a few strategies on handling the situation.

A few of the major steps forward would be to make readily available assistance and resources to the victims, if need be. Another goal is to provide public information and education about racial violence.

One item that has yet to be considered with the city, Peshlakai said, is a memorandum agreement with GPD. The agreement would develop a working relationship between the Navajo Police and GPD.

The Navajo Police has remained uninvolved mostly in part due to the work of the local law enforcement.

“We are watching the Grants police actions,” said Peshlakai. “We are pleased that (GPD) has been very proactive.”

“My detectives are swamped,” said Chief Sena, “Right from the beginning we put other cases aside, our focus is putting these people behind bars, we want them all.”

The chief said the work has been a bit tedious ensuring all leads have been followed up and building a case that won't get thrown out of court on a technicality. Not only the detectives are on the case, the patrolmen and chief are working the file as well.

The chief and others have been patrolling in unmarked vehicles to ensure the safety of the areas where attacks took place.

A major concern, heard around the community was voiced by the chief. Without an overnight place for the homeless or vagrants in the city, they become vulnerable to attack.

“They have a right to be here, same as everybody else,” explained Sena, “as long as they are here we will protect them as any other citizen. I hope we can find some way to get them home at night.”

Sena mentioned that he thought the beatings had nothing to do with the recent designation of Mount Taylor as a “traditional cultural property,” he said the attacks were random acts of violence and 'stupidity.'

While no other arrests have been made in connection to the case there is light showing at the end of a dark situation.