This regular California Highway Patrol feature, #ICYMI, is a roundup of recent notable incidents involving the CHP, including a holiday enforcement effort to coincide with the unofficial start to the summer travel season, a traffic stop in the Central Valley that resulted in a major drug seizure, the arrest of Bay Area freeway shooting suspect, the dramatic rescue of an injured hiker in Siskiyou County, and the beginning of an incredible journey at the CHP Academy for 160 cadets.
DUI Arrests
CHP officers kept watch over California’s crowded roadways over the holiday weekend. A statewide Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) ran from 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 24, to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 27. During the 78-hour holiday enforcement effort, CHP officers made 1,106 arrests for driving under the influence, which is an average of an arrest every four minutes. Sadly, 42 people were killed in crashes on California’s roads during the MEP. Among the 17 vehicle occupants who were killed in a crash within CHP jurisdiction, eight were not wearing a seat belt.
Cocaine Seized In Traffic Stop
A CHP canine sergeant seized over $399,000 worth of cocaine during a traffic stop on May 17 in Fresno County. During the stop, the sergeant observed several factors suggesting the driver was engaged in criminal activity. The sergeant searched the vehicle and located a gym bag containing about 11 pounds of cocaine, resulting in the arrest of the driver.
Arrest In Freeway Shooting
The CHP’s Golden Gate Division Special Investigations Unit arrested a suspect linked to a non-injury freeway shooting on Interstate 680 (I-680) in the Dublin Area. On May 19, CHP Dublin Area officers received a 9-1-1 call reporting a non-injury shooting on I-680 just north of Alcosta Boulevard. Based on a witness account, the San Ramon Police Department assisted in locating the suspect vehicle. CHP officers responded to the scene and after investigating, arrested 42-year-old Brandon O’Connor of Foresthill, California, on attempted murder and various weapons charges.
Rescue Of Injured Hiker
CHP’s Northern Division Air Operations came to the aid of an injured hiker in Siskiyou County on May 23. The dramatic rescue captured on video in the Marble Mountain Wilderness shows CHP Helicopter-14 hoisting the injured Pacific Crest Trail hiker to safety after a fall from steep terrain.
New Class Of Cadets
One week down, 25 to go for Cadet Training Class III-24 that arrived at the CHP Academy to begin training on May 20. The new class of 160 cadets surpassed in size the previous class of 140 cadets that entered the CHP Academy in March and was the largest class since 2021. On Wednesday, the new class met the Physical Training staff, who treated the cadets to the first of many workouts at the CHP Academy. Anyone interested in applying or learning more about a rewarding career of service is encouraged to visit CHPMadeforMore.
