Law Enforcement
Lewiston Area Drug Coppers Hit Pay Dirt
October 25, 2018 
Idaho’s highways might be full of criminals if a recent two day “emphasis patrol” by Idaho State troopers and local coppers is any indication. Seems that nearly half of the 156 motorists they stopped ended up charged with drug violations.
Here is the official breakdown from the District 2 office at Lewiston:
On October 23 and 24, 2018, the Idaho State Police conducted an emphasis patrol on US Highway 12 and US Highway 95 near Lewiston, Idaho with support from the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, Nez Perce Tribal Police Department and Idaho County Sheriff’s Office. The focus of the patrol was to enhance traffic safety and disrupt criminal activity.
During the 2 day emphasis patrol, 156 vehicles were stopped for traffic violations. Upon further investigation of those stops, law enforcement identified 14 felony drug violations and 62 misdemeanor drug violations. Eight individuals were arrested for outstanding warrants and one driver was arrested for DUI. Multiple citations and warnings were issued for traffic violations. The Idaho State Police appreciates allied agency support of its mission to provide public safety across the State of Idaho through law enforcement excellence.
Sgt. Ken Yount (who happens to patrol with a drug dog) told the GUARDIAN the figures aren’t as alarming as it may appear.
“I think we had about 30 cases because there were multiple violations among additional passengers in some of the vehicles and the majority of the incidents involved illegal personal use,” said Yount.
No cash, vehicles, or other property was seized.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Oct 25, 2018, 6:41 pm
Iam just positive that thse stops were strictly for traffic violations. Certainly nothing else. (Sarc).
Oct 25, 2018, 7:20 pm
Whatever the reason was, I’m glad that some police somewhere are doing their job. Boise has become Mad Max after Chief Masterson left.
Oct 26, 2018, 11:16 am
I agree with Erico49 in sarcasm and the main point.
The pro-cannibis people need to pull these arrest reports and my bet is they all have a common denominator.
Then what?
How about some evidence of what the ISP is doing?
Possession for personal use has NOTHING to do with ‘traffic safety’
A waste of our resources!
Oct 26, 2018, 9:07 pm
I would bet that all the pull overs were traffic violations or vehicle issues; failure to stop, lights, no blinkers, etc. These type of crackdowns do work and help to protect the public. Now, they may not be in your neighborhood which is why you can’t believe they’re happening, but it is real.
Oct 29, 2018, 8:28 am
While this type of police action may “work”, it is a really a backdoor where police look for evidence of crime where there is no evidence or suspicion to warrant imposing or investigating a citizen.
Police should not pull someone over for a blinker violation, when the real intent is to fish for some larger infraction, its really a violation of our rights justified by a minor traffic issue.
Police, Police and Correctional Officers unions log jam our justice system at a huge tax payer expense for minor drug violations that are legal on the state level in many of our neighboring states.
Oct 31, 2018, 9:57 am
They do not pull over for a moving violation when the intent is to fish for some larger infraction. Stupid people take their drugs in the car instead of keeping them at home. And they do not keep their vehicles in working order and they violate laws of the road, either carelessly or out of ignorance.
JJ have you checked your auto insurance bill lately? Because you probably need more when one of the uninsured bozos rams in to you. You would not cry fishing then.