Law enforcement: Christmas holiday not totally peaceful

Local News

December 29, 2009

By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Tue Dec 29, 2009, 09:04 PM EST

Local authorities aren’t exactly reporting a quiet Christmas weekend, but no major incidents occurred during the four-day period.

“It was a pretty good weekend,” said Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood. “Our guys stayed very busy, but we didn’t have anything out of the ordinary.”

Wood said for his department the holiday period officially started at 6 p.m. Thursday, which was Christmas Eve, and ran until 12 a.m. Monday.

During that period, Wood said records from 911 dispatch reveal that his department responded to 278 calls in all.

17 or those calls were motor vehicle accidents, with only one of those reported as an injury accident. Three individuals were charged with DUI, three with trafficking in a controlled substance, and two people were charged with possession of a controlled substance by the sheriff’s department.

24 other individuals were arrested on “assorted charges,” Wood said.

City police also reported no unusual incidents during the weekend. Somerset Police Detective Shannon Smith said the weekend was longer than usual because many businesses closed for full or half days on Christmas Eve, but he said that didn’t result in a higher number of calls than normal.

“That didn't seem to increase any problems for the police

department,” Smith said, adding that this year’s holiday weekend is “consistent with any other three or four day holiday weekend.”

Smith said SPD officers responded to 234 calls for service during the Christmas holiday period between Wednesday evening and Sunday night.

Smith said SPD investigated 12 motor vehicle non-injury accidents and no injury accidents.

Three people were arrested and charged with a total of 8 drug-related charges, according to Smith.

There was one arrest for DUI, and one arrest for alcohol intoxication and four people were arrested for shoplifting from local businesses.

Six people were arrested by SPD on outstanding Pulaski and other in-state warrants.

Wood said he was grateful that authorities didn’t respond to any major incidents, including injury or fatal accidents.

“As always, we’re very thankful for that,” he said. “I commend the citizens for driving with regard to the safety of others.”

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