Cop Shop

Driver triple BAC limit

On Sunday, March 16, at approximately 8:25 p.m., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Bridgeport Area officer made a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet Astro Van for driving over 80 miles per hour on US-395 northbound, just south of Convict Lake Road.  The officer contacted two individuals in the vehicle and advised the driver of the reason for the stop.  The officer immediately recognized the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from within the vehicle and observed an open container at the passenger’s feet.  The officer requested the driver (Ethan Gilbert of Newhall, CA) perform field sobriety tests. The officer determined Gilbert was under the influence of alcohol, with a preliminary alcohol screening test of 0.27%, more than three times the 0.08% legal limit.

Gilbert was arrested for driving under the influence and booked into the Mono County Jail in Bridgeport.  Gilbert’s van was towed and he was issued a driver license suspension.  Mammoth Lakes Police Department assisted the CHP officer at the scene of the arrest. Gilbert’s passenger was provided a ride into Mammoth Lakes by the California Highway Patrol.

Solo motorcycle collision

On Sunday, March 16, at approximately 11:50 a.m., Mono County Sheriff Ralph Obenberger came upon a solo motorcycle collision on State Route 182, approximately eight miles north of Bridgeport. Sheriff Obenberger contacted the Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center who dispatched County Sheriff’s personnel, Bridgeport Fire Department, Mono County Paramedics and notified the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Bishop Communications Center.

A CHP sergeant and lieutenant responded from the CHP Bridgeport office and a CHP officer responded the Walker area. The first arriving CHP employee, an Emergency Medical Technician, provided oxygen and emergency care to the victim while requesting a Care Flight helicopter from Reno be dispatched to the scene.  Personnel from the Bridgeport Fire Department arrived on the scene, continued care and prepared the victim for helicopter transportation. SR-182 was closed for 15 minutes while the victim was placed in the helicopter.

The preliminary investigation indicated the rider (Ms. Boos) was operating a black Harley Davidson Dyna Superglide traveling southbound on SR-182, among a large group of motorcyclists.  For unknown reasons, Ms. Boos failed to negotiate the curved roadway and traveled onto the soft right shoulder.  The Harley collided with a reflective roadway marker and the rider was ejected from the motorcycle.

Ms. Boos was wearing appropriate safety gear including a helmet, jacket and gloves.  Alcohol was not a factor in this collision

“This collision serves as a reminder to all of us of the rural nature of Mono County and the fact that travel or flight time to a trauma center takes hours, another reason to drive carefully, use seatbelt and motorcycle helmets” said R. D. Cohan, Commander of the CHP’s Bridgeport Area.

MONET busts two Bishop men

On March 17 at approximately 4 p.m., MONET (Mono Narcotics Enforcement Team) agents followed a lead regarding a methamphetamine distributor in Mono and Inyo counties.

With information of a pending narcotics sale, MONET agents met with David Hale and Timothy Brooks at the parking area of the Paradise Lodge trailhead near Lower Rock Creek Road.

After several alerts by narcotics detection K-9 Tara, a physical search of Hale and Brooks’ vehicle recovered an ounce of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe hidden in a car detailing wash mitten. Mr. Hale and Mr. Brooks were placed under arrest and transported to the Mono County Jail in Bridgeport without incident.

Hale, 30, of Bishop, was arrested for transportation of a controlled substance; transportation of a controlled substance for sale; possession of a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance for sale; possession of controlled substance paraphernalia; and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Brooks, 22, of Bishop, was arrested for transportation of a controlled substance; transportation of a controlled substance for sale; possession of a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance for sale; and conspiracy to commit a crime.

-Press Release by Jennifer Hansen 

Warrant leads to arrest of Mammoth man

MONET agents, along with the Mammoth Lakes Police Department (MLPD), concluded a warrant arrest at a residence in Mammoth Lakes in the past couple of weeks. MLPD Officers made contact with Dustin Coats inside his residence in Mammoth Lakes. Mr. Coats was openly smoking marijuana in the presence of his two-year-old son and Officers as they made contact. It was explained to Mr. Coats that he had a warrant out for his arrest for the purchase and sales of prescription narcotics. Mr. Coats was arrested by MLPD Officers and transported to the Mammoth Lakes Police Department without incident.

Mr. Coats stated he had purchased prescription narcotics and turned around and sold them on several different occasions. Mr. Coats also stated that even though it was stupid, he had taken his two-year-old son with him during the prescription narcotic sale transactions. Mr. Coats was taken to the Mono County Jail in Bridgeport without incident.

Coats, 27, of Mammoth Lakes, was arrested for possession of a narcotic controlled substance; possession of a narcotics controlled substance for sale; transportation of a narcotic controlled substance for sale; conspiracy to commit a crime; and willful cruelty to a child.

-Press Release by Jennifer Hansen