#ICYMI: This week, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) made headlines with several notable incidents, including a Dublin officer seized 270 pounds of marijuana and $36,000 in cash, a prime example of CHP West LA officers on ‘high’ alert, Oakland officers arrest suspect following a pursuit of a stolen vehicle, a collaborative sideshow enforcement operation with allied agencies and a round of a-’paws’ for a rescue by San Jose officers.
The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each announcement. Click on the headlines to access accompanying assets that are available for download.
On February 19, CHP's graveyard crew in Dublin made a stop on a Honda Accord for driving over 100mph on westbound I-580 west of Airway Boulevard. The vehicle yielded near Tassajara Road. After contacting the driver, officers noticed large garbage bags and a smell of marijuana emitting from the car. This speed stop resulted in the seizure of 270 pounds of marijuana, over $36,000 in cash and an arrest!
On February 18, CHP Officers Ramos and Villa made a traffic stop on a vehicle cutting across a cone pattern while Caltrans workers were outside their vehicles (working on the freeway). After contacting the driver, Officer Ramos observed the driver exhibiting objective signs and symptoms of impairment. Additionally, Officer Villa observed a freshly used nitrous oxide tank. Upon further investigation, the driver was placed under arrest for suspicion of inhaling nitrous oxide to cause a condition of intoxication.
On the 19th of February, an alert was received by our officers from the CHP Oakland Area office from a Flock Safety Camera reporting a stolen Jeep in the Oakland region. Golden Gate Division’s fixed-wing aircraft (Air-37), already in the area, quickly identified the vehicle and began offering real-time location updates to ground units. An enforcement stop was attempted but was unsuccessful as the driver failed to yield, triggering a pursuit. Air-37 continued its monitoring of the suspect vehicle until it came to a halt near 16th Street and Market Street, where the driver proceeded on foot. Subsequently, the suspect tried to avoid apprehension by boarding a public bus near 14th Street and Market Street. CHP officers responded promptly, halted the bus, and detained the suspect safely without any further occurrence. The individual was subsequently arrested and is currently held at the Santa Rita Jail on multiple charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading, evading against the correct direction of traffic, and possession of stolen property.
On the 15th of February, a collaborative operation was conducted involving the CHP from the Hayward and Oakland areas, the Alameda County Sheriff and the San Leandro Police Department. This operation was a sideshow suppression detail focused on the East Bay. The ground units were supplemented by airborne resources: a helicopter from Golden Gate Division and a helicopter from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. All pursuits concluded successfully, and all suspects were arrested. Numerous vehicles were impounded, and an array of stolen vehicles were successfully recovered.
On Valentine's Day, our CHP officer made a significant contribution to the safety of our community. They successfully retrieved a dog, Bernie, from active freeway lanes, averting a potential calamity. The animal was subsequently relocated to a local shelter, where a microchip was discovered. The shelter connected with Bernie’s family and successfully brought Bernie home!
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
