With crime prevention and recovery of stolen items topping the list, the #ICYMI is a roundup of notable incidents involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) over the past couple of weeks. Highlights include a partnership with the Bakersfield Police Department for crime suppression, an organized retail crime operation recovering over $326,000 in stolen merchandise in Oakland, a wrong-way driver arrested in Tracy, K9 Sully sniffing out drugs, and sky-high heroes taking part in helicopter rescue training.
Seizure Of Stolen Merchandise
A recent joint operation between the CHP’s Golden Gate Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and San Ramon Police Department resulted in the recovery of more than $326,000 in stolen merchandise and the arrest of a suspect in connection to operating the retail crime fence. On April 17, Octavio Ambriz-Valle, 52, of Oakland was arrested and booked on charges of organized retail crime, grand theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Wrong-Way Driver
A 29-year-old man was arrested in Tracy thanks to alert motorists and the rapid intervention by responding CHP officers. The very dangerous situation unfolded April 20 on Interstate 580 in San Joaquin County after several calls to 9-1-1 reported a wrong-way driver speeding down the freeway. The wrong-way driver was stopped by a CHP officer who was conducting a traffic break. The driver, who was determined to be impaired, was traveling with an 18-month-old baby in the car. The driver was arrested and will face multiple felony charges, including child endangerment. There were no injuries related to the incident.
CHP Partnership
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a crime suppression partnership underway in Bakersfield to continue improving public safety, address roadway violence, and stop criminal activity. Details of the coordinated enforcement effort involving the CHP and Bakersfield Police Department were unveiled on April 24 by the Governor’s Office. As part of this coordinated law enforcement operation, the CHP is conducting enforcement actions in and around Bakersfield to address auto theft, retail crime, and high-visibility, proactive traffic enforcement.
K9 Sully On The Job
A CHP canine officer and his canine partner, Sully, recently achieved a notable drug seizure in San Francisco. During a traffic stop, Sully’s keen sense of smell helped officers locate numerous bags of illegal drugs totaling over 122 grams of suspected cocaine, 10 grams of suspected heroin, 84 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and 230 grams of suspected fentanyl. The occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody and booked into jail on numerous drug-related charges.
Air Ops Training
The CHP’s Coastal Division Air Operations Unit recently took part in a two-day, multi-agency helicopter rescue training in Monterey County. Working alongside their partners from the San Luis Obispo Fire Department, Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services, Morro Bay Fire Department, Big Sur Fire, Paso Robles Firefighters, and the Cambria Fire Department, the annual training for the CHP’s Air Operations personnel focused on high-risk, low-frequency hoist rescues ranging from cliff pick insertions and extractions to a skid operation. Support from Air Operations enhances the CHP’s life-saving mission. In addition to airborne traffic enforcement and management, Air Operations aids with search and rescue, criminal surveillance, pursuit intervention, aerial photography, blood and organ transportation, homeland security, and emergency transportation of personnel and equipment.
