Medal presentations and a high-speed chase topped the list of recent California Highway Patrol activities around the state.
#ICYMI is a roundup of notable incidents involving the CHP, including six officers honored with a Medal of Valor, teamwork leading to the apprehension and arrest of an attempted murder suspect, the arrest of an entire chapter of a motorcycle club, the recovery of $8 million in stolen cargo, and the Special Olympics torch relay stopping at the State Capitol.
Medal Of Valor
Six CHP officers were presented with a prestigious Gold Medal of Valor, for heroic acts, during a ceremony on June 25 at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. The Special Act Award, given on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom, is the highest honor the state can bestow upon its employees who have risked their lives to save others or protect state property.
High-Speed Pursuit
On June 22, a CHP Capistrano officer was conducting a traffic break to close a section of Interstate 5 for a roadway hazard. During this time, a woman driving a black Mercedes used the center median to pass the officer and stopped traffic. Another CHP unit located the Mercedes and attempted to conduct an enforcement stop. The driver failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued into the CHP Oceanside Area, where CHP Oceanside units took over. The driver of the Mercedes traveled to a San Marcos residence, intentionally crashing into an unoccupied vehicle. Exiting the vehicle with a large cleaver-style knife, the driver was arrested by CHP officers without incident. Further investigation revealed the pursuit ended at her estranged husband’s residence, where she intended to kill him with the knife. The suspect was later booked into Orange County jail for felony evading, attempted murder, and other crimes.
Biker Club Arrests
On June 25, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of numerous weapons. All the suspects, who have ties to a motorcycle club in Bakersfield, face several charges, including kidnapping, first-degree robbery, assault with a firearm, false imprisonment, and elder abuse. They were booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Facility. The arrests followed a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the CHP.
Cargo Theft Sting
A months long investigation into a cargo and vehicle theft operation in Southern California resulted in more than 50 arrests and the recovery of over $8 million in stolen cargo and hundreds of thousands of U.S. currency. On June 20, CHP was part of a multi-agency, multi-location search warrant operation within three counties in California and one location in Arizona. The 51 arrestees were booked at the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department West Valley Detention Center for numerous felonies related to train burglaries, conspiracy, vin-switched stolen vehicles, operation of a methamphetamine lab, methamphetamine for sales, child endangerment, and possession of assault weapons. This is an active and ongoing investigation.
Guardians Of The Flame
On June 24, the annual Special Olympics torch relay stopped at the California Capitol. In the days leading up to the annual ceremony, CHP personnel throughout the state had the honor of carrying the Flame of Hope as part of the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members from the Sacramento region and inspiring Special Olympics athletes carried the Flame of Hope through the City of Sacramento to the west steps of the State Capitol.
