Police Beat for the week of Jan. 15th through the 21st:
On Jan. 15 at 3:20 p.m., officers conducted a routine traffic stop on SE First Avenue that turned into quite the bust. The driver, who was on probation for robbery, was arrested for heroin and methamphetamine possession, possession of stolen IDs, felon in possession of several firearms and restricted weapons, and providing false information. He was also cited for driving uninsured, expired tags, and illegal alteration of a license plate. His female passenger was also arrested, for heroin and methamphetamine possession, and identity theft. Officers seized from the vehicle three loaded handguns and ammunition, heroin, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, stolen checks and blank check stock; and stolen passports, debit cards, and driver’s licenses.
On Jan. 16 at 7:33 a.m., officers responded to several reports of unlocked vehicles being broken into the previous night on Knights Bridge Road. The thieves weren’t too hard to catch, though. There was surveillance video of the crime, and one of the super criminals left his cellphone at the scene. Doh! The two suspects were arrested for unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, theft, and possession of methamphetamine.
On Jan. 17 at 2:02 a.m., more cellphone shenanigans. This is a good one. After police stopped a driver with a suspended license on SW First Avenue, the man asked if he could use the officer’s cellphone to contact the vehicle’s owner. During the call, the owner advised the officer that the man should be arrested, as he had taken the vehicle without permission. The driver was arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of heroin.
On Jan. 18, at 4:14 p.m., police responded to a report of a lost/stolen iPhone at a basketball court on NW First Avenue. Maybe they should ask that thief from the other day, see if he lost his phone again.
On Jan. 19 at 12:53 a.m., officers responded to a call for assistance from a man who stated he had driven to a store on SW First Avenue with two companions, and they’d ditched him. The officers noticed the man was struggling to stand and appeared intoxicated. He was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence. His companions were located walking nearby.
Finally, on Jan. 20, at 7:45 p.m., a witness reported seeing a possible intoxicated driver on North Douglas Street. When officers located the suspect vehicle, they witnessed it drive over a curb and over the front lawn of a residence, before accelerating away. Hey, good call, witness! A traffic stop followed, and the driver was arrested for driving under the influence, attempting to elude, and hit-and-run: property.
