Wednesday, September 5, 2012
New Police Utility Terrain Vehicles Now In Service
The Durham Police Department has purchased three new utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) for use on the American Tobacco Trail, at large events and during other police activities. Durham officers put the first UTV to use today on the American Tobacco Trail. The three Polaris EFI 500 utility terrain vehicles cost a total of approximately $32,000 and were purchased with asset forfeiture funds. The vehicles have been outfitted with police red and blue lights as well as sirens and are clearly marked as police vehicles. The vehicles can seat two officers and have a large compartment in the back to carry equipment. The vehicles can be used in areas not readily accessible to traditional police vehicles. In addition to directed patrols on the American Tobacco Trail, the Durham Police Department plans to use the vehicles at events such as CenterFest and in response to calls where the terrain is difficult to navigate.Additional Information about Durham Police Department Activity on the American Tobacco Trail - Officers have conducted more than 200 directed patrols on the American Tobacco Trail since August 1. Officers have been patrolling in uniform and in plainclothes on foot and on bicycles. Officers from the Crime Prevention Unit underwent specialized bicycle training last week and have also been doing patrols on the trail. Officers have made several arrests in the past two weeks while doing directed patrols. HEAT 3 officers were patrolling on the American Tobacco Trail near Cornwallis Road around 4:45 p.m. on August 22 when they arrested Zachariah Newkirk, 21, of East Cornwallis Road on drug charges. Newkirk was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver, possession of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia. HEAT 3 officers made drug arrests on August 23 around 7:30 p.m. while patrolling the American Tobacco Trail near Pilot Street. Officers cited Ronald Gene White, 59, of Timothy Avenue for possession of drug paraphernalia and charged Michael Louis Johnson, 59, of Apex Highway with possession of crack cocaine. On August 24, HEAT 3 officers were doing a patrol on American Tobacco Trail near Pilot Street when they saw two people walking away from an open full can of beer lying on the trail. Officers arrested Shannon Bailey, 40, of Zephyr Court on an outstanding warrant charging her with failure to appear in court on an open alcohol container charge. Aaron Stone, 48, of Orchard Way was served with warrants charging him with possession of drug paraphernalia.Uniform patrol officers were doing a patrol on the trail near Fayetteville Road around 11:30 a.m. on August 29 when they noticed four teens standing in the woods near the trail. Officers found marijuana in one teen’s backpack and arrested him. Jonathan Enrike Martinez, 16, of Liberty Street was charged with felony possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver and served with a warrant charging him with larceny. The other three teens were released.
Published:
09/05/2012
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