When Bishop Police Chief Chris Carter spoke to the Bishop City Council this week, he briefly described an arrest that involved very effective team work by his staff and ended in the arrest of two people.
Sierra Wave Media talked to the Chief for more detail. He explained that last Sunday night, Officer Brent Gillespie saw a vehicle come through the City at great than the speed limit. The vehicle also had illegal, tinted windows.
The officer made a stop. The on-duty dispatcher checked out the details and informed Officer Gillespie that the two occupants of the vehicle had been stopped in an out of state vehicle at another time by another officer.
The Chief said Gillespie grew suspicious and investigated further. Chief Carter said there were “other indicators” that tuned Gillespie into the fact that the two people were possibly transporting drugs. Gillespie asked them to go to the police department and there he and his K-9, X-ray, searched the vehicle.
The Chief said Gillespie found two hidden compartments constructed in the vehicle under the driver and passenger’s seats. In one of the compartments the officer found a large amount of packaged U.S. currency. Chief Carter said it was more than $10,000. He said the K-9 made an active alert on the money indicating that it was drug proceeds with the scent of illegal drugs which the K-9 is trained to detect.
The suspects, Chief Carter said, could not explain the illegal compartments and the cash. The Chief said the money was seized and the two arrested. Investigation into this case continues and no more details are now available.
Chief Carter called it good teamwork by the dispatcher, officer and K-9. He added that if people doubt that there are regular amounts of drugs and cash on 395, this incident adds to the confirmation.
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BPD is getting more dope off the streets than INET. Great job BPD. INET has a great career path..narcotics to bailiff. Or maybe narcotics to casino janitor.
Note to self; if a Bishop P.D. officer ask you to go to the police department after handing you a traffic ticket say no I don’t have time.
Sean- I think you and the police are probably correct, but I doubt they will convict them of a drug charge.
These guys are just money mules. What happens to them doesn’t really matter. What matters is where they were coming from and where they were going. Hopefully evidence was gathered to help the narcotic detectives find their way up the drug dealer food chain.
Regarding the hidden compartment discussion the intent of that section is very specific to the drug trade. Nothing wrong with that section. If the cops find a hidden compartment in your car filled with Playboy magazines they aren’t going to arrest you… They are going to laugh at you.
Lastly – what happens in the field at the scene of an investigation and arrest is never accurately covered in the news. The Chief wasn’t there so he may not know every detail. I don’t think Bennett got to read the Officers arrest report. My point is there is a lot of people who read this blog post and think they know what happened down to every detail. You don’t. Unless you were there, or have access to the reports, or go to court and watch the proceedings you only have a small taste of the total event. Don’t rush to judgement either for the suspects or officers based on an initial news report.
What do you mean what happens to them doesn’t really matter? these guys are just money mules?
You saying they are just expendable so it doesn’t matter? Explain if you don’t mind, or not because you know I am gonna dissect what I don’t agree with.
No just when you hide your money or your gold … they will seize it and or arrest you … I just don’t think that is right .. you can say it is specific to the drug trade .. but that does not stop an individual from being suspicious of you as having something to do with drugs, then how do you look? That is the danger of laws such as this.
I agree Big Al, I’ll buy lunch of if the D.A. successfully prosocutes for the hidden compartment.
Kudo’s to the officer though for getting the morons to drive to the Police Department to have their vehicle searched. I’m sure he could also sell ice to Eskimos.
How do we know these guys weren’t just hiding their gambling money from their wives ? Must of been Raven fans 🙂
“Gillespie ASKED them to go to the Police Dept….AND THEY WENT ? I’m all for getting drugs (and drug money) off the streets, but it seem s that these idiots didn’t know that they could say NO…HELL NO !
Big Rick, If they were under arrest, don’t think they could refuse.
BK
“Gillespie asked them to go to the police department”
Gillespie wouldn’t have let them drive to the police department if he had placed them under arrest.
I think it takes more then a funny feeling of suspicion to justify probable cause to search a vehicle. These guys had to be morons and willingly allowed the vehicle to be searched. Even after finding the money they should have said it’s hidden so they don’t get robbed. It’s not uncommon to hide money when traveling.
A good lawyer would have fun with this one and it just may end up being a waste of resources.
That’s what I am talking about Mark A big waste of resource’s.
I don’t know about y’all but I plan to be here for another 50-60 years and this unsustainability that our way of lives feed into is a real treat to me and my family cause honestly I don’t take any of this convenient life for granted. So I will evermore speak out against to help the tainted system some hold up as if it is the word of GOD.
Um … Benett … the article doesn’t say they were under arrest .. they were asked to go to the PD .. So they weren’t arrested until they failed the hidden compartment test.
yeah, it embarrasses me to no end that are local pd and chp pull over every car they can going to burning man. I met an older gentleman a couple weeks ago, he says ‘doesn’t matter how slow we go, we know we’ll get pulled over somewhere in mono or inyo county on our way through’. Why are we ok with this kind of profiling? Think about it, we profile middle easterners at the airports…Shouldn’t we be profiling white males? I mean, after all, they’re the ones doing the mass shootings.
What does Burning Man, Mass Shootings, Terrorism, and Nazi-like behavior (according to you) have to do with a Bishop PD Officer making a good traffic stop and having the skills and experience to know he was on to more than just traffic violations?
Would you prefer he be parked behind Kmart sleeping?
Good Job BPD.
We all benefit from having police to serve and protect. What are they to do if they don’t agree with a section of codes they are to enforce? They have a job to do, and a noble job it is. (Tilt of thee hat).
In this day and age we are in it so deep we have become immune to the fact the law combats it’s own citizens systematically. I mean we are in it deep because it took several sequence’s of events, year’s of legislation, to a point where our whole system is tainted.
Look at the stats and history, the first drug law was targeting the Chinese rail road workers (opium) but of course they had to outlaw smoking it since that was the way the Chinese used it.
I have nothing against police. We live in a broken system in more ways than one and all to often we are too content to even care.
If we were profiling muslims at airports then why does my junk get felt up when I travel?
I agree with you sierragrl about the idea that having a secret compartment in a vehicle is against the law. That is just one of those laws made to help nail people for things when they’re doing something wrong, or in the case supposedly did something wrong.
I am not defending these guys, and yes Wayne they were pretty arrogant about it, either that or they thought no one would notice them, if they were going faster that the speed limit. $10,000 is not a large amount, maybe the were decoying for the big shipment at a point they felt was a critical concern. Cops here have made a number if significant amount of stops and arrests, I’m sure the drug patrons know that.
I mean .. if I was transporting money myself and I was worried about being robbed and wanted to hide it as such, I don’t think that is illegal, but a law like this is designed to add incriminating evidence to a case that needs something to bolster it by giving probable cause to cinch the arrest and conviction.
Unfortunately you would be busted for it as well, even though you were not using it for anything illegal.
I think without the presence of drugs and all, this shouldn’t be the case, but that is how it works, like it or not.
You’re right Wayne, a lot of stuff comes right through town, 395 is a main trade route for everything legal and illegal. Even the bad joojoo stuff the trucks bring …. right through our little towns any given hour of the day.
And yes it was good work, good team work, I don’t say anything about that in my point of view, I just fault the law where it is due as I see it, and I give credit where it is deserved.
But sierragrl, I’m sorry to blow your stats about white males being so deadly, and accountable for all mass shootings, I think you need to read up on that, at least one man of middle eastern decent brought about death .. on an army installation. Two shooters and ex soldier and a teen kid .. both African American killed several people in serial shootings of innocent people.
Way to profile all of the white males.
I dont thinks its “whites” doing all the murdering in Chicago[which by the way has the toughest gun control in the US] or inner cities.
Yeah it has the toughest gun laws but it is a island of gun control surrounded by a sea of guns so your reference holds no weight.
I disagree Jerry … statistics have constantly shown, where gun laws have been enacted, crime rates go up.
You could gun ban the entire ocean, but will not be able to stop guns from being used by people do to bad things.
Criminals do not respect the law, they only respect one thing … knowing someone might fight back!
It’s a utter failure to combat the drug user’s. And the whole drug war has wasted so much tax dollars and what are left with? what progress have you seen in any of those high crime areas? And nobody is immune to becoming a addict or having somebody close to you that is a addict so this effects everybody. But I have little evidence the system is out to help anybody.
Hahahaahhahah Big Al, you named like all the significant ones where it was a minority but it is a high percentage of Caucasian’s that carry out these type of planned out mass killings, can’t argue with the facts man.
I am not trying to defend anybody that is obviously in the wrong but time after time you see our justice system made out to be a joke! whether it be a Lindsey lohan case or a right to stand your ground case which doesn’t apply to everybody as easy as it does for some, and if you really want to see those facts they are out there and it is sicking.
Well you know what chip chipperson you are a human to them and the security we need allows them to degrade, embarrass, and be little people How does it feel?
I know my facts … I know what I see, so don’t try to profile any one group .. that is just being hypocritical! … I never said .. Eurpoean Americans do more or less then African Americans, than Hispanic Americans, than Asian Americans or purple people eaters.
The fact is … everyone shares in the crap! … I don’t even side with people who say blacks are the number one group to cause murders and crime, because it simply is not true.
Like I said to sierragrl .. way to profile a certain group. Why the hell is it people see the need to profile and generalize people. Why don’t people call it like it is .. it is just people doing this crap, and quit spreading the hate in these subtle ways.
You take issue with the cops pulling over people going to burning man? It’s no secret what goes on at burning man…but how is does that connect to racial profiling? You say “shouldn’t we be profiling white males?” Well…..that’s mainly who goes to burning man so my guess is..yes, they are profiling white males in that case. If you are heading to a drug related event then you should’t be surprised nor offended by being pulled over. If you don’t have any drugs on you..then why be upset? I’m always amazed when people suggest that we all look the other way while people commit their crimes because it might be inconvenient or offensive. The fact that this “older gentlemen” knows he will get pulled over on his way to burning man means the cops are doing their job. If the word is out that you will get pulled over in Inyo/Mono county on the way to burning man, maybe you will think twice about hauling your drugs through here or driving under the influence. Only the guilty need to be afraid.
…and another thing……WHY do these drug dealers do such stupid things while they transport ?….speeding through town,tinted windows, probably the music blaring,etc…Now IF I were to do such a thing,I’d drive the speed limit in an old vehicle,drawing less attention to myself….Now before people start posting and defending these “runners”,what do you think the secret compartments were intended for,and all that $$$ with drug residue ?…probably will be hard to convict with this one when you add a sleazy defense lawyer into the mix…..but it’s gonna be good-bye money….
90 percent of U.S. bills carry traces of cocaine
I don’t see the charges sticking and a good lawyer would get the money back
Pretty stupid on their part to get themselves into trouble all on their own accord.
Can we skip the stereotyping of the “sleazy” defense lawyer. One day, when you are accused of a crime you are not guilty of, some “sleazy” lawyer may keep you from 20 years in jail. Innocent until proven guilty. Did you know the California Innocence Project frees several inmates a year who were in jail for 20+ years for crimes they did not commit? Maybe they needed a “sleazier” defense lawyer.
Just because a lawyer holds the aurthorities to the letter of the law doesn’t make them sleazy. The lawyers that do this are actually patriots for standing up for our constitutional rights.
Scott and Mark…yeah,your probably correct there….My mistake was maybe watching O.J.Simpson get away with murdering two people,while his lawyers knew he was guilty of the crime….and then seeing Casey Anthony walk free after killing her 2 year old daughter,hoping and getting the jury to believe her lawyers lies about what “actually happened”.
What can I say? That’s the way the system works.
btw, might as well add Ray Lewis to your list.
Wayne, I heard the other day, that there is speculation that O J didn’t killed his wife and her boyfriend. Some sort of evidence that was found, I think?
….Maybe these guys should have laundered their money……literally…..run it through the wash cycle at the neighborhood laundramat…..
Yes Officers we don’t need the proof of the evils out there. We see the effects on a daily basis, I am speaking for myself that if you think we doubt there is drugs out there then you are far from the reality or you should get out and talk to the people more. Speaking for myself again, what I really doubt is the tactics used on a local level to a national level are not the best practices when it comes to keeping drugs out of the hands of the user’s, pusher’s, and manufactures.
Correction, I really doubt the practices currently used are the best if the purpose is to keep it out people’s possession, Don’t take it personal I know all these cops have a job to do. but the problem is getting worse, not only in the consumption of toxic substances, but also programs that are meant to help people are the programs being cut.
So I say stop wasting resources combating people over the minor issues when the ability to have a bust like this everyday because it’s out there.
Okay I’ll say it, Good job to the Officer that made the difference (K9), Officer with your nose and the gifts that you were granted from Mother Earth helped Man take credit for possibly stopping Evils that were confiscated from being a resource to somebody to create more evils.
GOD BLESS THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT SHARE THE SAME MOTHER EARTH WE TEND TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.
I will add that the Chief said creating compartments in a car, such as in this case, is also illegal. In addition to the K-9, the humans connected the dots
which also led to the arrest.
BK
The Chief should have stated section code. They’ll have a tough time convicting from what I read;
to establish a violation of Section 863 in a hidden trap case, the following elements must be established beyond a reasonable doubt:
1) The perpetrator sold or offered drug paraphernalia for sale.
2) The hidden trap was equipment or a product primarily intended or designed for use in concealing a controlled substance.
3) The perpetrator acted knowingly.
As a result, Section 863 cases are limited to situations where an undercover officer or informant solicits a suspect to build a hidden trap for a fee. This type of investigation would necessarily involve not only the development of evidence as to construction of the device but also the collection of recorded conversations between the law enforcement agent and the target in which the target is placed on notice that the device will be used for concealing a controlled substance. Unfortunately, this appears to be the only way that the required elements may be proven.
Health and Safety Code 11366.8
that doesn’t sound very american…you can’t create a hidden compartment in your car? Slippery slope…that is sounding very nazi like to me. If what is in it is illegal, then nail them for that…don’t make a hidden compartment illegal….where’s all the right winger libertarians on this one?
I know huh, you can’t have a secret department but you can have a bunker full of guns and ammo with the mind set of. . . . I will stop there.
Libertarians arent right wingers….the are left,right, and in the center.Learn your terms.