By Abigail Roberts
The Stanford Police Department had a busy October responding to numerous calls from an attempted bank ATM robbery, several assaults, drug-related activity and more.
SPD Officers conducted over 200 traffic stops in October, issuing over 100 various counts and citations for traffic violations, according to an activity report from SPD Chief Zach Middleton.
There was a total of 938 Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) reports in October. Of those, there were 33 incidents/cases opened including theft, assault, stolen vehicles, domestic violence, and drug-related activity. These cases required further investigation than a typical call for service.
Officers responded to 27 traffic collisions, 10 of which were injury accidents.
SPD officers made 25 arrests on charges varying from assault, drug possession, minor-related, disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication and multiple outstanding warrant services.
Middleton provided an “activity snap shot” for the month, detailing several major arrests that officers made in October.
The following summaries are just a few incidents handled by SPD in the last month and do not reflect the department’s activity in its entirety.
Attempted Bank ATM robbery
On Oct. 4 SPD officers responded to PBK Bank on Hwy. 27 for an alarm on the ATM. The investigation revealed someone had attempted to break into the ATM but was not able to retrieve any cash due to the security and alarm.
“After reviewing footage and searching the area, Officer Jay Eldridge located one of the suspects hiding under a building on the high school campus,” the report states. “Another suspect was located in a vehicle across the road.”
The two suspects were arrested. Officers determined they were part of a group believed to be responsible for other ATM thefts across Kentucky and the United States.
“The case remains under investigation by SPD in conjuction with other state and federal agencies,” the report states. “Officer Kaleb Phipps is the investigation officer and was assisted on scene by Officers Eldridge and Captain Jeremy Garrison, as well as the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.”
Heroin-related arrest
A traffic stop on a wanted subject resulted in a drug arrest on Oct. 15. After receiving information from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Preston Middleton conducted a traffic stop on a wanted subject. During the stop Middleton and LCSO Sgt. Eric Dean located narcotics, including heroin. the subject was arrested on the warrant and charged with possession of controlled substances.
Man stalking, harassing female
An investigation on Oct. 15 resulted in an arrest after Officer John Williams determined a man had made several threatening comments and sexual advances and exhibited “very concerning behavior and elements that constitute stalking towards the female.” The male subject also made threats to others including law enforcement. Officer Williams opened the case and obtained an arrest warrant for the male. The subject was later arrested on the warrant by Officer Mike Southerland on several charges including stalking, theft by unlawful taking, terroristic threatening, sexual abuse, harassment (physical contact) and menacing.
Adult men attempting to meet minors for sexual relations
SPD Officers arrested two adult males who were allegedly attempting to meet minors in Stanford for sexual relations.
On Oct. 18 officers conducted an investigation after being made aware of a subject who was allegedly planning to meet up with a minor for sexual relations in Stanford. During the investigation it was determined the subject was communicating with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl and had arranged a motel room.
The subject was speaking with a decoy who was pretending to be a minor and working with local law enforcement. The subject was arrested and charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means. Officer Jay Eldridge is handling the case.
Officers also arrested another male subject on Oct. 30 on similar charges. An investigation revealed an adult subject was attempting to meet a minor in Stanford for sexual relations. He was also arrested and charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means. Officer John Williams is handling the case.
Belligerence at a local restaurant
SPD officers were dispatched to a local restaurant where a male was allegedly being belligerent and causing a disturbance.
Investigation revealed the male subject was upset over an order and became belligerent, throwing food and hitting employees with it through the drive-thru window. The subject was charged with disorderly conduct. Officers Williams, Marcum and Captain Kirkpatrick were the responding units.
Female street fight
Officers responded to a report of two females fighting on Powell Street on Oct. 28. Upon arrival officers spoke to an adult female with visible injuries. Sgt. Greg Hill and Chief Middleton determined another female began fighting and assaulting the other female. She was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault.
Weed in the school pick-up line
Officers received multiple calls of a vehicle in the Stanford Elementary school pick-up line that had the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Officers responded to the school and located the vehicle in question. Inside the vehicle officers located a large bag of marijuana. A male subject was charged with possession of marijuana. Sgt. Hill was the arresting officer.
Knife-wielding man arrested after brief struggle
Officers responded to a private property on Cotton Avenue after reports of a suspicious person. When officers arrived the subject was gone, but soon after he was seen walking from the vicinity near the intersection of U.S. 150 and U.S. 27.
Officers Chase Marcum and Preston Middleton stopped to speak with the subject who had an outstanding arrest warrant. The subject, who had a large knife on his side, became combative, actively fighting with the officers.
“After a brief struggle, which resulted in injury to our officer, the subject was arrested,” the report states.
Parties were evaluated and treated at the hospital and the subject was served an arrest warrant and charge with additional charges of resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and possession of marijuana.
