Checkpoints provide crackdown on DWIs, drugs
Panther Creek – Within a window of just over three hours, agencies from the local, regional and state levels joined forces to send a resounding message: don’t drink and drive.
On-hand for a checkpoint in the area of Panther Creek on N.C. 28 were officers from both the Graham and Swain County Sheriff’s offices, as well as members of N.C. Probation & Parole, N.C. Highway Patrol and the N.C. Driving While Impaired Task Force – which brought a vehicle that houses a mobile field-sobriety testing unit, dubbed a “Batmobile.”
The effort capped back-to-back nights of established checkpoints to the east of the Nantahala Gorge; a longer operation took place Friday on U.S. 19/74 in Whittier.
“In my 24 years as a deputized officer, I have never seen a multi-agency checkpoint like this in Graham County,” said John Shuler, who – along with his wife, Valinda – is nearing retirement from a career spent as a probation officer. “This is unreal. I have never seen two sheriff’s offices come together and make such a positive influence, and bring this many agencies together.”
Saturday’s effort might have occurred on a smaller scale, but arguably had a bigger impact in totality. Aside from a quick thunderstorm that rolled through around 6:30 p.m. – just as the checkpoint was being set up – there were very few hiccups in the operation. One driver that opted to roll through the sea of hands asking for a stop was soon pulled over before making it to the Swain County line at Tsali; another driver had to wait a lengthy amount of time while the mobile unit attempted to re-establish a dropped network connection. Shortly after a citation for simple possession of marijuana was issued around 10 p.m., the checkpoint was closed down – but not before the following stats were established:
* one DWI charge;
* seven drug charges;
* nine driving while license revoked/no operator license charges;
* 10 “other” charges;
* Seven charges in total.
Friday’s collaboration in Whittier was manned by the same agencies, with the addition of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryson City Police Department, the N.C. Forensic Test for Alcohol Branch, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, Ellen Pitt from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, District Attorney Ashley Welch’s office and the Stecoah Fire Department.
The larger operation was estimated to see over four times more traffic flow than the Graham County checkpoint and lasted roughly five hours. All told, the results were:
* three DWI arrests;
* one child-restraint violation;
* one seat-belt violation;
* 14 drug violations;
* 16 no driver’s license violations;
* 15 driving while license revoked violations;
* 17 infractions reported as “other”;
* Three warrants executed;
* 88 total charges issued.
“We had so much support from other agencies,” Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit said. “Together, myself and (Swain County) Sheriff (Curtis) Cochran are committed in trying to keep our roads safe and drugs out of our communities.”
Late-night search
Robbinsville – Shortly after the checkpoint ended, members of the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, along with the agency’s SERT Team and Drug Enforcement Unit, conducted a search of two residences in the River Breeze Trailer Park on Five Points Road.
Three drug arrests were made from the searches:
* Josh Garrison: Possession of methamphetamine (felony); possession of schedule III (Suboxone) controlled substance;
* Tim Sellers: Possession of methamphetamine (felony).
* Brian Teesateskie: Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine; possession of schedule III (Suboxone) controlled substance; maintaining a dwelling place for sell and delivery of a controlled substance (a felony).