#ICYMI: A roundup of notable incidents involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) this past week, including CHP officers targeted by a wrong-way driver, a CHP operation resulting in 168 arrests and recovery of 360 stolen vehicles, arrests related to a suspected chop shop near Tracy, increased arrests and recovered assets from the Organized Retail Crime Task Force, and the series finale of the CHP’s online docuseries, Cadets.
The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each announcement. Click on the headlines to access accompanying assets that are available for download.
Two CHP officers were injured on March 13 when a wrong-way driver crashed head-on, at a high rate of speed, into their stopped patrol vehicle along the shoulder of Interstate 80 in Davis. The intentional act was caught on camera by a passing motorist and made public. The officers, who were wearing their seatbelts, suffered minor to major injuries. The suspect was taken into custody. The CHP issued a video statement on social media.
In the ongoing efforts to combat crime in Oakland and the East Bay, the CHP made 168 arrests and recovered 360 as part of undercover sting operations. Suspects were arrested by the CHP for charges including possession of stolen property, auto theft, transportation of narcotics, DUI, and felony gun possession, as well as arrests for outstanding warrants.
The arrests were a result of undercover operations and uniformed patrol and were carried out in coordination with allied local law enforcement agencies in recent weeks following the initial surge that was announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Feb. 14.
The San Joaquin County Auto Theft Task Force, comprised of the CHP, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, Stockton Police Department, Tracy Police Department, Manteca Police Department, and the San Joaquin County Probation Department, identified three suspects after the execution of a residential search warrant at a rural property in unincorporated San Joaquin County near Tracy. During the search, the Task Force recovered 12 stolen vehicles, at varying stages of being dismantled, with an estimated dollar value loss of over $600,000. Three suspects were arrested and charged with operating a “chop shop” and stolen vehicle possession.
The CHP continues its effort to fight organized retail crime in California. Results released last week show that in the first two months of 2024, the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force has been involved in 118 investigations, resulting in 333 arrests, and the recovery of nearly 153,000 assets valued close to $3.7 million.
The season finale of the CHP-produced docuseries Cadets was released on March 13. Episode 9 finds the class of CHP cadets nearing the end of their six-month training at the CHP Academy and the much-anticipated graduation day, where they will be sworn in as officers. The show encompasses the range of emotions the cadets experience leading up to the moment they receive their badges. Upon reflection, the cadets get a chance to discuss some of the takeaways they gained during their time at the Academy and what they expect leading up to reporting to the Area offices in which they are assigned. Since the series premiered two months ago, it has received nearly 330,000 views across the nine episodes on the CHP’s YouTube page. To apply or learn more about becoming a CHP officer visit www.chpmadeformore.com
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service and Security.