Redlands Police cited a 16-year-old Highland boy for felony vandalism after a weekend incident damaged a marble statue, light fixtures and shrubbery at the historic Kimberly Crest chateau.

Police will also forward charges against a 20-year-old Highland man in the incident.

Police were alerted shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, to the vandalism at Kimberly Crest, the historic chateau which sits amid Prospect Park in the 1300 block of Prospect Drive.

Investigators found the marble statue - known as “Shy Girl,” which depicts a young woman with her hand held demurely to her face - with two fingers broken off. They also found damage to two light fixtures and trees bent to the ground.

Early that same morning, police officers on a routine property check of the park discovered several people drinking in the park at about 2 a.m. The subjects attempted to hide when police arrived but three of them, including a 16-year-old Highland boy, were found and cited for park curfew violations.

Investigators interviewed those subjects Saturday evening and again on Sunday and learned that three others had been involved as well. After interviewing all six subjects, police determined that the six of them had been drinking in the park when they walked to Kimberly Crest and began horseplaying.

One of the subjects removed the globes from two light fixtures and they began to kick one around. The 16-year-old threw the second fixture at the statue, breaking the fingers from one hand.

The group was on their way back to their cars when they were confronted by the patrol officer and cited for curfew violation.

In addition to the 16-year-old cited for felony vandalism, police forwarded charges to the District Attorney’s Office against 20-year-old Matthew Allen Upshaw, also of Highland.

The remaining individuals have not been charged in the vandalism.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Stephen Crane or Investigator Toshia Wells at (909) 798-7659 or call Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French chateau style home built in 1897, is a well preserved example of the Victorian Era in California. The 7,000 square foot, three-story chateau sits on a six and one quarter acre estate two miles south of downtown Redlands, and is enjoyed by more than 11,000 visitors annually.

Originally built by Cornelia A. Hill, a widow from New York State, the home was purchased by J. Alfred Kimberly (a co-founder of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation) and Helen Cheney Kimberly in 1905. Their widowed daughter, Mary Kimberly Shirk, lived in the home from 1920 until her death in 1979.

In 1963 there was a community effort to raise money to purchase Prospect Park (a 39 acre botanical park east and adjacent to Kimberly Crest) for the City of Redlands. To motivate support for this project, Mrs. Shirk promised to give her home to the “people of Redlands,” if the needed money was raised. The park was acquired in 1968. The following year the Kimberly-Shirk Association, a non-profit corporation was formed. In her will, Mrs. Shirk left the house to the Association for the people of Redlands.

For more information, visit the Kimberly Crest Association’s website at http://www.kimberlycrest.org/

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 1:53 PM 0 comments

A shoplifting arrest at a Target store led Redlands Police over the weekend to a swap meet dealer believed to traffic in stolen merchandise worth at least tens of thousands of dollars.

On Friday, March 14, Redlands Police received a call from Target security of a theft in progress. As responding officers set up a perimeter around the store at 27320 W. Lugonia Ave., loss prevention officers kept them apprised of the actions of the suspects inside the store.

Police learned one subject, later identified as 22-year-old Henry Llerena, of San Bernardino, hid 14 video games inside other merchandise and put the merchandise on a shelf in the store. Llerena then left the store watched by Police Chief Jim Bueermann and Lt. Rogelio Garcia.

Another subject, identified as 23-year-old Joseph Hernandez, also of San Bernardino, selected the merchandise with the video games concealed inside and bought the merchandise without paying for the video games. When Rodriguez left the store, officers detained him.

When Chief Bueermann and Lt. Garcia attempted to detain Llerena, the suspect fled on foot but was apprehended by Chief Bueermann and Lt. Garcia.

Both suspects were arrested for burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. During a search of the Llerena’s vehicle, officers also located items consistent with the sale of marijuana. Llerena was charged with possession of marijuana for sales.

Police developed information that video games and DVD movies stolen throughout the Inland Empire had been purchased by 32-year-old Daniel Herrera, a vendor at the San Bernardino Indoor Swap Meet, located at 1675 N. Mount Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.

Police set up a controlled buy, in which Herrera believed he was purchasing stolen video games, which had been provided by Target investigators.

On Saturday, March 15, undercover officers observed the "stolen" video games on display in Herrera's shop at the swap meet. The undercover officers negotiated the purchase of four of the games. Officers then arrested Herrera and confiscated more than 1,000 new DVDs, video games, game systems, and game system components. The value of the confiscated items was well over $35,000.

Herrera was charged with the attempted possession of stolen property. He was later transported to County Jail.

The Redlands Police Department was aided in the investigation by Target Regional Investigators Jim Sturgess, Theresa Infusino and Jake Harris. This investigation was possible due to the partnership the Redlands Police Department has built with such companies as Target.

Organized retail theft has become a problem plaguing many companies throughout the nation. Last year, the FBI estimated organized retail theft cost businesses some $30 billion. Those costs are often passed on to consumers.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 10:58 AM 0 comments

Two suspects involved in a hit-and-run collision in a stolen car were arrested after dumping the vehicle and stealing another nearly identical one.

Redlands Police were searching for a maroon Honda Accord with front-end damage after the car was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run collision near the intersection of Redlands Boulevard and Eureka Street shortly after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 12.

A few minutes later, Sgt. John Moore spotted a maroon Honda Accord on West State Street and pulled the vehicle over. While closely matching the description of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run, the car had no damage to the front end.

While officers had the vehicle pulled over, a witness contacted them and reported seeing the car’s occupants getting out of a damaged vehicle parked across the street. That car turned out to be the maroon Honda involved in the collision, which officers later determined had been stolen in Highland the night before.

The driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Crystal Ann Dance, of Highland, and the passenger, 21-year-old James Chicot, of Apple Valley, were arrested for possession of stolen property, auto theft and attempted auto theft. Dance was additionally charged with hit-and-run.

Anyone with further information is asked to call Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 8:34 PM 0 comments

Drunk driving: Over the limit. Under Arrest

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In fact, during 2005, nearly 13,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving an impaired driver or motorcycle operator with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

In 2005, 59 percent of all traffic fatalities that occurred during the evening of St. Patrick’s Day to the early hours of the following morning involved drivers with a BAC of .01 and higher. Of those, 89 percent involved a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher.

That is why the Redlands Police Department announced today that they will be out in full force on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend cracking down on and arresting drunk drivers. In addition, a DUI Checkpoint will be set up at Colton and New York from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“St. Patrick’s Day weekend has become a big weekend for many Americans—especially young adults. We’ll be working even harder with sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and using undercover officers to get more drunk drivers off the road,” said Cpl. Les Jolly, Traffic Unit Supervisor. “If we catch you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses.”

Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state, but too many people are still not getting the message. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.3 million people were arrested for driving under the influence during 2005.

Jolly said that always designating a sober driver before the party begins and never letting friends drive drunk are just two of several simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving.

Other important tips include:

· Plan ahead: Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;

· If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;

· Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement. To report drunken drivers, call 911;

· And remember, friends don’t let friends drive drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, big attorney fees, unpaid time away from work, and dozens of other expenses.

“No matter what you drive — a passenger car, pickup, sport utility vehicle or motorcycle — if you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested,” said Cpl. Jolly. “So don’t push your luck this St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Remember, Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.”

Funding for this checkpoint is provided by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 8:33 PM 2 comments

Bicycles and helmets will be given away when the Redlands Police Department hosts a Bicycle Rodeo Saturday, March 15 at Lugonia Elementary School, 202 E. Pennsylvania Ave. The Bicycle Rodeo is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The rodeo will include safety demonstrations and instruction in proper wear and adjustment of bicycle helmets. Building a Generation will also provide a free car safety seat inspection clinic.

A crew will be on hand to perform basic bicycle repairs.

Members of the Police Department’s Citizens Volunteer Patrol will offer free bicycle registration and fingerprinting for children.

Children and their parents are welcome to attend. Food and drinks will be available.

The hope is that every child who attends will leave with a much higher degree of knowledge of bicycle safety.

For information, call the Redlands Police Department at (909) 798-7681. For information on the safety seat inspections, call Lugonia Family Resource Center at (909) 792-0298.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 8:32 PM 0 comments

Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who badly damaged a historic gate at the city cemetery.

The entry gates, which stood at the Alessandro Road entrance to Hillside Memorial Park, were donated to the city in July of 1920 by Olivia Stokes in memory of her sister Caroline Phelps-Stokes, who died in April 1909. Caroline Park, the city’s 16.8-acre nature park, was also a gift to the city by Olivia Stokes in memory of her sister.

The stone and steel cemetery gateway was constructed with Bedford, Indiana, limestone dressed in New York and constructed by the Bly Brothers Stone Company of Los Angeles. The gate was designed by Stokes’ nephew, Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, in Philadelphia.

A matching set of gates along Sunset Drive was bequeathed to the cemetery when Olivia Stokes died in 1927.

At about 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, one of the Alessandro Road gates was struck by the driver of a white, late 1990s or early 2000 Dodge extended cab pickup in stock condition, as the vehicle exited the cemetery along with another vehicle.

After hitting the gate and knocking it off its stone pillar, the driver got out of his vehicle and observed the damage. He was contacted by a cemetery employee but got into his truck and drove away before the employee could get the driver’s information or a further description of the vehicle.

The driver is described as a white male in his late teens to early 20s, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 160 pounds, with short brown hair and clean shaven.

Both the driver and his vehicle were seen with another driver in a separate vehicle both at the time of the collision and earlier in the morning in the cemetery. That vehicle is described as a white Chevrolet or Ford, late 1990s or early 2000s stock pickup. The driver of that vehicle is described as a white male in his late teens or early 20s, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with short dark hair.

The suspect’s vehicle would likely have extensive damage to the driver’s side.

The city is currently awaiting a quote to repair the damaged historic gate, but the cost is expected to be several thousand dollars.

Police are seeking any information on either of the drivers or vehicles.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Todd Arnold or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

The Stokes sisters were generous with their family fortune, measured in the millions from the copper industry, publishing, banking and real estate family businesses in Massachusetts. In addition to the gates at Hillside Memorial Park, the sisters donated the Dudley Gates at Harvard and the Haynes Memorial Gates at the First Church Cemetery in Hartford, Conn. They also were known for their philanthropy to Native Americans, African Americans and impoverished residents of the South and the slums of New York City.

The sisters traveled extensively in their own railroad car until building their Mariposa home in Redlands.

Both Olivia and Caroline are interred side-by-side at Hillside Memorial Park.

PHOTO CAPTION: The historic gateway at the Alessandro Road entrance to Hillside Memorial Park is seen following the hit-and-run collision that damaged one of the gates. The right gate as one enters the cemetery was knocked off its pillar mount and damaged.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 4:13 PM 0 comments

The city of Redlands is warning hikers after two residents reported sighting of a mountain lion in San Timoteo Canyon last week.

In an e-mail to the city, the resident reported spotting the mountain lion last week while she and a friend were hiking in the canyon.

There have been several confirmed mountain lion sightings in Redlands since May 2001. In November of last year, state Department of Fish and Game officers captured a young female mountain lion in a back yard near Crafton Elementary School.

Of the hundreds of mountain lion sightings reported statewide annually, fewer than 3 percent are considered safety threats. According to the Department of Fish and Game, mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. There have been only 15 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1890, six of them fatal. The last documented attack occurred in June, 2004 in Tulare County.

While there have been several sightings in Redlands over the past five years, there have been no reports of mountain lion attacks on humans in San Bernardino County.

The Department of Fish and Game has issued the following guidelines for anyone living in mountain lion habitat:

v Don’t feed wildlife: By feeding deer, raccoons or other wildlife in your yard, you will inadvertently attract mountain lions, which prey upon them.

v Deer-proof your landscape: Avoid using plants that deer prefer to eat; if your landscaping attracts deer, mountain lions may be close by.

v Landscape for safety: Remove dense and/or low-lying vegetation that would provide good hiding places for mountain lions, especially around children’s play areas; make it difficult for mountain lions to approach your yard unseen.

v Install outdoor lighting: Keep the perimeter of your house well lit at night – especially along walkways – to keep any approaching mountain lions visible.

v Keep pets secure: Roaming pets are easy prey for hungry mountain lions. Either bring pets inside or keep them in a kennel with a secure top. Don’t feed pets outside; this can attract raccoons and other mountain lion prey.

v Keep livestock secure: Where practical, place livestock in enclosed sheds and barns at night, and be sure to secure all outbuildings.

v Keep children safe: Keep a close watch on children whenever they play outdoors. Make sure children are inside before dusk and not outside before dawn. Talk with children about mountain lions and teach them what to do if they encounter one.

v Do not hike alone: Go in groups, with adults supervising children

If you encounter a mountain lion:

v Keep children close to you: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at all times.

v Do not approach a lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.

v Do not run from a lion: Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

v Do not crouch or bend over: If you’re in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children

v Do all you can to appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.

v Fight back if attacked

More information is available at the Department of Fish and Game’s website at www.dfg.ca.gov or by calling (909) 484-0167.

Not for public release: Members of the press can get further information by calling the Department of Fish and Game public information Office at (916) 654-5866 or (916) 654-2096.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 5:14 PM 0 comments

Five suspects, including four teens, were arrested Sunday after two teen-age girls reported they were sexually assaulted Friday night.

The girls, ages 14 and 15, told investigators they were walking home in the 1400 block of East Brockton Avenue at about 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, when several male subjects invited them into a home.

The girls began drinking with several males in the home. After some time, the girls said they began to feel dizzy. They reported they were then sexually assaulted.

Afterward, two of the teen boys walked the girls home, where the girls said they again sexually assaulted them before the boys were scared off when the father returned home.

The girls reported the assault Sunday morning. Police went to the Brockton Avenue home and arrested four juveniles and an adult, 21-year-old Alex John Hughes.

Two of the teens – ages 17 and 15 -- were charged with unlawful sexual intercourse and transported to Juvenile Hall. One teen, age 16, was charged with unlawful sexual penetration and oral copulation. The fourth teen was released without charge, pending further investigation.

Hughes was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for furnishing the alcohol.

Police are continuing their investigation and more charges may be filed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives Alesia Castaneda or Mike Reiss at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 6:57 PM 0 comments

Police are looking for two men who held up a Redlands liquor store at gunpoint and also escaped with the store owner’s gun Saturday night.

A witness called police and reported the robbery in progress, as two masked men held up the clerk at the Rancho Liquor Market at the intersection of Colton Avenue and Texas Street at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1.

As one of the robbers held the clerk at gunpoint, the other jumped over the counter and emptied the register. The robber also found a loaded semi-automatic handgun and took it along with DVDs and cigarettes.

The robbers jumped over a wall north of the business and escaped into a residential neighborhood. Police set up a perimeter and called in a canine unit from the San Bernardino Police Department but were unable to locate the suspects.

The robbers are described as black males, wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and dark pants. At least one wore a blue bandana across his face. The other carried a black backpack and wore a sweatshirt with white writing on the front and down the right arm. Both men wore gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 6:55 PM 0 comments

Redlands Police arrested an 18-year-old Redlands gang member Wednesday in the shooting of a 20-year-old Colton man at a party early Sunday morning.

Oscar Omar Correa was arrested for attempted murder at a home in the 3600 block of Riverview Drive in Riverside at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Correa, a documented gang member, is suspected of shooting a 20-year-old Colton man during a party in the 900 block of Lawton Street at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24.

The shooting victim was discovered when officers pulled over a 2004 Mazda on the transition road from Tennessee Street onto the westbound Interstate 10 Sunday morning and discovered the passenger suffering from a gunshot wound.

At about the same time, police were responding to separate calls of a disturbance at a party in the 900 block of Lawton Street and reports of an apparently injured man being driven away in a vehicle nearby. Police determined that the victim was shot during the party.

Further investigation led officers Wednesday evening to the Riverside home where they found and arrested Correa.

Investigators have not determined a motive for the shooting but are looking into the possibility that it was gang-related.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Officer Mike Merriman or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 10:12 AM 0 comments

Redlands Police continue to investigate the theft of bronze, copper and other metals stolen and sold for scrap.

The most recent thefts involve bronze commemorative plaques at three city parks. Last week, volunteers discovered a 45-pound bronze plaque missing from Caroline Park. The 1 ½-foot-by-2-foot plaque commemorated donors to the 16.8-acre nature park on Sunset Drive.

The plaque is the third stolen from Redlands city parks over the past month, including one in Sylvan Park that explained the history of the Zanja and a larger plaque in Ford Park.

The city’s cost to replace the three plaques is estimated at $4,000. Investigators believe the thieves would be likely to get less than a few hundred dollars for the plaques as scrap.

Investigators have contacted scrap dealers in San Bernardino and other surrounding counties.

As a precaution, the city’s Quality of Life Department removed several other plaques from city parks until a method to safeguard them can be determined.

Anyone witnessing suspicious activity is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681 or call 911. Anyone with information on the thefts of bronze commemorative plaques is asked to call Detective Derik Ohlson at (909) 798-7659.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 10:02 AM 0 comments

A 24-year-old Redlands woman is in serious but stable condition after falling from a moving vehicle Wednesday evening.

The victim fell or was ejected from the passenger seat of a Ford Focus, driven by 22-year-old Siobhan Clare Gibbons, of Victorville, at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the 900 block of Pine Street. The victim was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center with major head injuries.

Both the driver and the victim had been drinking and Gibbons was determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Gibbons was arrested for felony DUI and transported to West Valley Detention Center.

Another passenger in the vehicle was uninjured and there was no damage to the vehicle.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Officer Dominick Povero or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 10:01 AM 0 comments

Police are looking for two men who assaulted and robbed a 19-year-old Redlands woman as she walked from a bus stop.

The victim had left the bus near the intersection of Redlands Boulevard and Texas Street at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, and was walking west on Redlands Boulevard when she was grabbed from behind.

The assailant tried to grab the woman’s iPod and escaped along with another man with the victim’s bus pass.

The men were last seen running south on First Street from Redlands Boulevard.

The assailant is described as a black man, approximately 6 feet, 3 inches tall. The other man was described as a black man wearing a backwards hat. Both men were wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 10:01 AM 0 comments

The Redlands Police Department Animal Control and Community Service Divisions are teaming up to host a Community Pet Adoption Day, Saturday, March 1, at the Redlands Community Center.

The event will be held on the tennis courts of the Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in adopting a pet is invited to come by and get to know the animals. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist with the animals. Pet adoption paperwork will be handled at the Redlands Animal Shelter, 504 N. Kansas St.

Pet adoption costs are $63 for dogs and $37 for cats, which includes vaccinations as well as spaying or neutering the animal. There is a discount for senior citizens: $35 for dogs and $22 for cats.

For more information, contact the Redlands Animal Shelter at (909) 798-7644 or the Community Center at (909) 798-7572.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 12:37 PM 0 comments

Public urged to call 911 to report drunken drivers

Redlands Police Officers will conduct a sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, until 2 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Citrus Avenue and University Street.

Grant funding for the sobriety checkpoint was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) which is asking for the public’s help in reporting drunken drivers by calling 911.

“Law enforcement can only do so much,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “Knowing that other motorists are going to report drunk drivers is a significant deterrent. And all of our efforts are aimed at preventing a drunk driver from getting behind the wheel in the first place. One phone call really can save a life.”

Motorists should exercise common sense and good judgment when calling 911 to report a drunken driver. Under no circumstances should the public make an attempt to follow or stop the vehicle or interact with the driver.

Signs of a drunken driver include:

• Appearing to be drunk or drinking in the car
• Turning with a wide radius or straddling the center of the road or lane marker
• Almost striking another object or vehicle and weaving or zigzagging across the road
• Turning abruptly or illegally and driving more than 10 mph below the speed limit
• Following others too closely, drifting or moving in a straight line at an angle and erratic braking
• Driving into opposing lanes or crossing traffic or driving with headlights off

Friday’s checkpoint is the first funded under an October 2007 OTS grant awarded to Redlands. The grant provides funding in excess of $350,000 to be used for DUI Checkpoints, DUI Saturation Patrols, Selective Traffic Enforcement and equipment.

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# posted by Redlands Police Information @ 12:33 PM 0 comments