Coatesville police restarts bicycle patrol
By MICHAEL N. PRICE, The Daily Local, POSTED: 04/12/14, 4:28 PM EDT |
COATESVILLE — The city police department took advantage of much-welcomed warm weather Thursday by placing several additional officers on the street to conduct the “first of many” bicycle patrols that resulted in several arrests.
According to the Coatesville Police Department, three officers took part in the supplemental patrol Thursday evening. Police said the patrol intends to improve the department’s relationship with the community while also cracking down on quality-of-life issues in the city. Thursday’s patrol netted five arrests, according to police.
The city used to have a full-time bicycle patrol, according to Detective Sergeant Brandon Harris, but manpower and funding shortages have limited the department’s ability to conduct the patrols in recent years.
“We do it whenever we have the chance to do it, whenever we have the manpower,” Harris said, noting that Thursday’s patrol was funded by the Chester County Municipal Drug Task Force.
Harris said the department wanted to conduct the patrol on one of the first warm nights of the year so the officers could interact with members of the community.
“It’s more a community policing detail, but we’re really focused on quality of life issues,” Harris said. “We picked the first warm night because we knew a lot of people would be outside. It’s a lot harder when you’re in a car to stop to talk to everyone outside.”
Police said Thursday’s patrol was a success, resulting in five arrests on drug offenses and outstanding warrants.
The first arrest came at 6:40 p.m. when the officers arrested Gamond Harris for drug possession after he was found sitting in a car in the 300 block of Victoria Drive.
Police said Kyle Watson was arrested around 8:20 p.m. in the 600 block of Harmony Street on three outstanding warrants. Rodkeem Williams was also arrested a short time later near East Lincoln Highway and Chester Avenue on an active warrant.
Another man, Samuel Grove, was taken into custody on an active warrant around 8:40 p.m. in the 700 block of East Lincoln Highway. Police allegedly found cocaine and drug paraphernalia in his possession.
The final arrest came around 9:20 p.m. after police allegedly observed James Brown, of Lynchburg, VA, crushing up a prescription pill while sitting in a car in the 300 block of East Lincoln Highway. Police said Brown attempted to hide the presence of the prescription drugs when he was approached by police. Brown was charged with possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence, police said.
Harris said the police department hopes to conduct more of the bicycle patrols, but that will depend on the department’s manpower levels and ability to pay the overtime for additional officers.
“We plan on doing it a lot more, depending on manpower and funding,” Harris said.