A roundup of notable recent incidents involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) include ringing in the New Year with a holiday enforcement effort that netted hundreds of impaired drivers on California’s roads and a traffic stop that uncovered a DUI, cannabis, and a smuggled monkey.
Those were just a couple of the cases making headlines across the state, handled by CHP officers.
New Year’s Crackdown
The CHP wrapped up its New Year’s Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) with 481 DUI arrests during the 30-hour campaign, averaging one arrest every four minutes. The enforcement effort ran from 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. CHP officers also issued nearly 10,000 citations for speeding, seatbelt violations, and other traffic infractions. Despite these efforts, 11 people tragically lost their lives in crashes within CHP jurisdiction during the holiday period. The MEP underscores the CHP’s commitment to keeping California’s roads safe and serves as a reminder of the dangers of impaired and reckless driving.
Monkey Rescued In Traffic Stop
A CHP officer in Madera stopped a speeding Rolls Royce Ghost on Dec. 30 on Highway 99 near Avenue 17. The officer arrested the driver for DUI and possession of cannabis intended for sale. During the investigation, the officer discovered the driver also had an infant spider monkey in the vehicle. In California, it is illegal to keep primates as pets. The monkey, now estimated to be five- to six-months-old, is receiving care at the Oakland Zoo after arriving with an upper respiratory infection. The driver was booked into Madera County Jail and faces multiple charges, including possession of an exotic animal.
CHP Detectives Make Arrest
Detectives with the CHP’s Golden Gate Division Special Investigations Unit arrested a 49-year-old Oakland man on Jan. 2, 2025, for the 2023 murder of his wife. The investigation began on Feb. 26, 2023, when CHP officers discovered a woman deceased from a gunshot wound on the Edwards Avenue offramp from Interstate 580 in Oakland. After nearly two years of investigation, detectives, in collaboration with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, filed charges against the suspect, leading to his arrest at Sky River Casino in Elk Grove with the assistance of local law enforcement and casino security. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Major Marijuana Bust
On Dec. 28, officers from the CHP’s Marin Area office stopped a vehicle for expired registration. During the stop, officers conducted a search and discovered over 28 pounds of cannabis and a firearm inside the vehicle. Officers arrested the driver, and he was booked into the Marin County Jail. The suspect faces charges related to marijuana possession and illegal firearm possession. The CHP continues to prioritize public safety through proactive enforcement efforts.
Rescue, Recovery Efforts
An officer from the CHP’s Humboldt Area responded to a call on Dean Road and Greenwood Heights Drive about a dog, named Franklin, who had been struck by a car. Franklin, a 110-pound Bernese Mountain Dog mixed with Anatolian Shepherd, had endured a tough series of events on Dec. 17: sprayed by a skunk, severely injured by a vehicle, and found struggling for breath in a flooded ditch. Officer Marlin Gast quickly rescued the dog and secured immediate medical attention, significantly improving Franklin’s chances of survival. Recently, Officer Gast had the privilege of visiting Franklin and his family. Though the dog’s injuries are serious, there is great hope for his full recovery.
