This Weekend’s On Patrol: Live Highlights, Commentary, and Social Media Activity

A recap of the December 7, 2024, On Patrol: Live episode (#OPL 03-40), anchored in the NYC studio by attorney and host Dan Abrams along with co-host Curtis Wilson and analyst Tom Rizzo, follows.

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Although this particular episode lacked any high drama for the most part, it did give viewers a unique glimpse into the array of diversified, if not eclectic, calls that cops respond to in the course of a shift.

Note: Click here for the recap of #OPL episode 03-39, December 6, 2024.

On Patrol: Live Summary for December 7, 2024 (#OPL Episode 03-40)

Please review this important DISCLAIMER.

OPL incidents in order of appearance:

  • Daytona Beach, Fla. — Ofrs. Eddie Lee and Carlos Queliz assist the Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT), including K9 Det. Roger Lawson, on a fleeing vehicle search that turns into a foot search after the driver and passenger bailed. Ofr. Queliz detains one suspect; after K9 Ali is deployed to track, cops detain a second man hiding under a lawnmower tarp.

Ofr. Lee recap: “…stop sticks were deployed by multiple members of the VCAT unit, which worked successfully. The car became disabled right here, and both the occupants, the driver and passenger, bailed out and took flight on foot southbound. The driver was caught a little ways away from here by perimeter units, and Officer Lawson pulled his K9 partner Ali out of the car and started tracking the passenger. About three houses up, K9 Ali located the passenger, who gave up to K9 warnings and was eventually taken into custody without further incident. He has a nice little gash on his head, I’m assuming from the way that they were driving, if not a fence or something along those lines, but he’s gonna be checked out before he goes to jail. So, they’re just gonna finish with the car, and then we’ll get out of here.” Det. Noah Galbreath adds that “located in the center console of this fleeing vehicle with these boneheads is — it was a scale, a couple of — decent sized little small bag of white powder, other, cocaine or fentanyl, a little bit of a smaller bag, and then some white rock, which is probably gonna be crack. If this bag here tests for fentanyl, it’s gonna be trafficking amounts, without a doubt, and both of these occupants are gonna be looking at some hefty charges.”

  • Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. (or Deputy) Kaleb Lee pursues a car that fled from a traffic stop. [Note: OPL refers to Knox County Sheriff LEOs as officers rather than deputies — the latter being the norm elsewhere. This blog is attempting to obtain clarification on Knox County LEO job titles.] The search is subsequently terminated, however. OPL host Dan Abrams: “He may be backing off, but he’s not giving up.” Ofr. Lee: “Now we’re just gonna circulate the area — gonna try to see if we can’t catch him…”

Listen to Ofr. Lee discuss the incident:

  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Mikayla Ortiz conducts a friendly traffic stop on a car that made a wrong-way turn. Warning issued. The couple goes along with the corporal’s suggestion that they switch places.

Cpl. Ortiz recap: “Learning a little bit more, he just had cataract surgery, so maybe his depth perception or something is off. I’m not entirely sure. I don’t think there was any ill will intent, so his wife is willingly gonna drive. They’re going down the right way now, so thankfully that didn’t turn out worse and this wasn’t a ‘trafficky,’ and there wasn’t a lot of traffic out, so we got them on their way and hopefully they stay on the right path.” Abrams: “But you do have to wonder why he was driving. I’m just saying. Fresh off cataracts. Maybe the wife says ‘let’s wait a few more days’…”

  • Monroe, La. — Sgt. Scotty Sadler initiates a traffic stop for a tag light issue with a motorist who initially seems a bit churlish. Sgt. Sadler: “We’re just having a grown man conversation.” The interaction quickly becomes more positive, however, and results in just a friendly warning. The motorist says he’s a retired NYPD cop and now works at a local high school. “I’m too old to retire.” Abrams: “There’s one thing I’m still confused about here. Former New York City cop, now living in the Monroe, Louisiana area, wearing a Steelers’ hat. I’m just saying; I don’t know.” OPL studio analyst Tom Rizzo: “But he picked up the Louisiana accent.” OPL co-host Curtis Wilson: “Are you trying to say he should be a Saints fan?” Abrams: “Something — one of the locals. I don’t know.”
  • Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Nelson Barajas and other units look for some people, possibly homeless, who allegedly fled into the woods leaving behind tents and various random items and trash.
  • St. Lucie County, Fla. (pre-recorded segment) — Sheriff Keith Pearson and other units serve a warrant at a residence on an alleged known drug dealer. Deputies take the man into custody in the backyard.

Sheriff Pearson recap: “He tries darting out the back door. He sees K-9 Echo there staring him down. He complied, laid down, and lo and behold, he went down memory lane, and talked about four or five years ago when I was here, and I arrested him for the exact same thing. So right now, he has a warrant for sale and delivery of cocaine. So hopefully this time, they keep him behind bars for more than five years.”

  • Humboldt County, Calif. — While providing backup for a traffic stop at a gas station, Sgt. Shane Steele spots another vehicle and conducts a probation-related car search. Although a K9 alerts on the vehicle, no contraband is found, and the driver is released.

Prior to the search, Sgt. Steele explains that “So, as my partner was on his traffic stop, I look over here and observe this gentleman who I’m familiar with. I arrested him a couple years ago. He committed an armed robbery at a different gas station here in town, and he’s on formal probation. So, we are conducting a probation search. We’re just gonna take my vehicle over there, secure him, and we will move on from there. So, we’re gonna have the dog run and see if we can indicate to any narcotics.” The sergeant emphasizes that they are looking for “new violations” rather than remnants.

Abrams: “Captain Rizzo, you were talking about how this is really a state-by-state issue.” Rizzo: “Sure, so he obviously recognizes that individual as being on active probation, which will allow him, without any type of legal justification, to search, confirm his status, and see if he’s in violation. We can’t do that.” Abrams: “In New Jersey.” Wilson: “We can in South Carolina.” Abrams: “State by state.”

  • St. Lucie County, Fla. — Det. Ethan Kirk searches the surrounding area in response to a shots-fired call. “So it sounds like the complainant doesn’t want to speak with us. She just wanted to pass the information along and just have the area checked out.”
  • Triple Play #3 — A Little Rock, Ark., police pursuit.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Ortiz, along with Cpls. Hunter Rogers, BJ Nelson, and Dylan Lee with K9 Nash respond to a home invasion/burglary in progress at an apartment complex. They make contact with the victims at their apartment unit. The suspect had already left the location, however. According to Cpl. Ortiz, “So it sounds like the suspect is gonna be gone. They didn’t get a description of them, they don’t really know much, but they did kick the door so hard that the locking mechanism on the door is broken, so we can’t shut the door. We’re gonna address that problem with the management, and it sounds like we’re gonna possibly try to track the suspect down this way.”

Abrams: “So they are the victims there of this attempt, but there’s an interesting balance there, right? On the one hand, you have this guy who’s been victimized, and he calls the police, and the police arrive, and he’s frustrated. You can see that he’s being treated as a suspect, and yet the police don’t have much of a choice when they first arrive.” Rizzo: “No way, and remember, this is escalating. It started from a burglary, to then it became a home invasion, but an armed home invasion at that. So everybody’s a suspect, unfortunately, until we can figure out otherwise. They know who we are. We just don’t know who they are. So that’s where compliance and communication works.” Abrams: “And it worked. I think it worked here. It was a little bit of frustration at the beginning…” [crosstalk] Wilson: “…put your arms — understands why they had to do what they had to do…” Abrams: “So the search continues now. K9 Nash is out. You saw the damage to the door frame there.”

Cpl. Ortiz subsequently adds that it’s difficult for the K9 to pick up a track in a densely populated apartment complex.

  • Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Barajas and other units conduct a traffic stop. Two occupants. Neither allegedly has a valid license. Car search after a K9 alert. A small amount of weed is seized for destruction. The “super cooperative” occupants are released with a warning. “This is their hotel: Let them park their vehicle. We’re not trying to ruin anybody’s life, but we’re out here to enforce the law when it comes to narcotics.” Abrams: “And the good news is that dog’s ears will not be cold.”

“We’re not trying to ruin anybody’s life, but we’re out here to enforce the law when it comes to narcotics.”

  • Daytona Beach, Fla. — Ofr. Queliz disperses teens and/or 20-somethings from congregating at a gas station in their vehicles and blocking the pumps. Abrams: “Good time to start checking the tint.” The officer has a friendly interaction with one of the motorists about his vehicle customization as well as the need to steer clear of the gas pumps out of courtesy to customers.

Ofr. Queliz explains that “There’s always one that ruins it for everyone. So, like, you guys could be here chilling and showing your cars, but at the same time, you’re occupying the space for someone to use the gas. And then there’s always one that wants to burn tires as they’re leaving because they want to be rude. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t take my car to show because there’s always one person that ruins it for everybody else. Just because someone decided to act a fool, now all of you guys have to pay. You see what I’m saying? It’s nothing against you because I like the cars, but unfortunately, we have to respect other people’s business and property…”

“It’s nothing against you because I like the cars, but unfortunately, we have to respect other people’s business and property…”

  • Toledo, Ohio — Ofr. Heather Smith and colleagues respond to a noise complaint at a apartment complex and asks a group of females from one unit to tone it down. She also warns them that someone might get arrested and/or receive a citation if cops get called back to the location.

Ofr. Smith recap: “So it doesn’t seem to be any actual fighting going on. There seems to be a Christmas party going on. They’re trying to figure out who has the ugliest Christmas sweater. There’s a few cow sweaters and a Christmas tree that I saw. Some of the family members are a little bit more intoxicated than others. She was advised to stay inside or else she’s gonna get a DC* intox because she shouldn’t be out in public. They’re debating on sending the party to a local bar, but I don’t think that that’s the best idea for them.” [*disorderly conduct]

“They’re debating on sending the party to a local bar, but I don’t think that that’s the best idea for them.”

  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Dep. Katelyn Ridenour assists in an investigation of a person on probation who is allegedly tampering with a GPS unit. Later in the show, Abrams provides an update that the alleged sex offender “has been located and accounted for.” Listen to Dep. Rdenour’s initial summary before the incident was resolved.
  • Humboldt County, Calif. — Sgt. Steele provides backup on a traffic stop involving a possibly intoxicated driver with an invalid license and who is on probation for DUI. “We will see how this proceeds but obviously we will make sure that she’s safe to be on the roads.”
  • Monroe, La. — Sgt. Sadler, Cpl. Kelsie Wilson, Ofr. Serenity Smith, and other units respond to an domestic incident. Sgt. Sadler interacts with an irate male who was detained on scene (and who allegedly tried to run) after which the sergeant quips “That’s two minutes of I don’t know what’s going on.” Cops also get the female’s side of the story.

Sgt. Sadler recap: “Sounds like the neighbors were sick of seeing their friend get beat up by this boyfriend. The police were called before, and they got out of it. But this time, the kids come…come from next door and told the friend what was going on. The friend came over here with her little wooden stick and took actions in her own hands and stopped him from beating up the mom. The mom had obvious signs of domestic battery. I mean, she had a bloody lip. Her cheek was real swole, and she said it was due to him beating on her. So thank goodness the neighbor stepped in, and the kids actually did what they were supposed to. So he’ll go to jail, be charged with domestic violence, and several others, probably resisting. And hopefully she’ll get the help she needs and realize she can do better than that.”

  • Humboldt County, Calif. — Dep. Bonilla and a colleague respond to a roommate dispute. Dep. Bonilla reminds the complainant that the this situation constitutes a civil matter requiring eviction proceedings in court. The roommate has “legal standing here.” Abrams recalls that the same call at that location appeared on an OPL episode previously.

Dep. Bonilla recap: “So basically, the RP* called regarding some guests her roommate was having…her roommate has established residency here, so she has all the rights to…she could invite anybody she wants. It’s up to her, so she’s not breaking any laws.” [*reporting party]

  • Monroe, La. (pre-recorded segment) — Cops conduct a traffic stop on a large SUV. K9 alert. Weed allegedly found under the gas cap. Personal lubricant also spotted during the vehicle search. The motorist receives a citation and summons and is released. Abrams: “So not a stiff sentence after all.
  • Toledo, Ohio — Ofrs. Jordan Freimark and Cherokee Tabb, and other units, on scene try to locate some individuals who checked in to a hotel with alleged stolen or fraudulent credit cards. Management wants them to leave the premises. It appears that the subjects had already vacated their rooms, however.

Ofr. Freimark summary: “So we had the manager bring a key; she made an entry in the room that we went to. It was empty. The other crew went to…the other room that they had rented, with another employee; that room was also clear, too. So at this point, we think they might have left the premises, and we’re just gonna have to complete the report, and our detectives are gonna have to follow up.”

  • Missing segment — Los Angeles, Calif.
  • St. Lucie County, Fla. — Det. Ethan Kirk conducts a traffic stop for alleged erratic driving. “You’re driving super crazy…c’mon man, got to be safe.” The apologetic driver indicates that he was rushing home because “I have to take a serious crap.” After a license check plus registration and insurance documents, he is released with a verbal warning. OPL caption: “Dismissed to deuce.”
  • Knox County, Tenn. (pre-recorded segment) — OPL presents a follow-up to the shots-fired call from last Saturday night’s show when more shots were heard nearby. Listen to an initial recap from Ofr. John Logendorf:

Ofr. Logendorf adds that “Right now, we’ll probably gonna head back towards our original position, see if we can’t find any of the shell casings, collect those for evidence, and have our forensics come out to do all that. The three that we have detained right now, I’m not sure if they’re gonna kind of collect, try to collect, any of the residue off of their hands to see if they may have shot any of the weapons, but that’s where we’re at right now, and we’ll go from there.” Abrams: “It turned out those guys had nothing to do with the incident.”

  • Knox County, Tenn. — Apparently during an assist on a traffic stop, Ofr. Lee makes contact with a woman on a bridge for a well-being check.
  • Toledo, Ohio — Ofr. Smith and other units make contact with and gather information from a couple in a store parking lot who say they were allegedly physically assaulted by four males and one female in a possible road-rage-type incident. The husband appears to have a laceration under his eye. Ofr. Smith mentions that they should drive directly to a police station if anyone istarts following them in the future.

Ofr. Smith recap: “Right now, it sounds like it did stem from a road-rage incident. They were on their way to a — back to their house. Someone started following them, started driving aggressively. They pulled over, trying to get their license plate or to get them to stop following them. They didn’t want them to follow them to their house. That’s when the people that were trying to follow them ended up getting out of their vehicle and trying to attack this woman. They threw a drink at her, sounds like a Pepsi, and then kicked her in the head, so her husband then defended her and ended up getting jumped by the other males. These Good Samaritans stopped to try and break up the fight, and right now our suspect vehicle is gonna be a black Chevy Equinox, probably like 2016-ish. So we’re gonna try and locate it, but it sounds like it went out of our jurisdiction. But hopefully if it comes back, we can get it stopped.”

  • Daytona Beach, Fla. — Ofr. Lee provides backup on a traffic stop and allegedly finds weed in a bag. “So you’re telling me this is not your bag, but all your stuff is in it, and there’s weed in it?”

“So you’re telling me this is not your bag, but all your stuff is in it, and there’s weed it it?”

  • Monroe, La. — Cpl. Kelsie Wilson is among a large group of cops who respond to a bar where an officer called for backup.

Listen to Cpl. Wilson’s initial summary of the incident:

  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpls. Ortiz and Nelson responds to a report of an alleged unruly customer at a convenience store/gas station. They interact with the clerk and the customer; the latter agrees to leave the premises.

Cpl. Ortiz recap: “It sounds like they had some sort of dispute. She didn’t know how to pump gas. She got angry with him, said he said he was no longer gonna give her service. She had already paid for the gas — he even refunded it. She’s saying he didn’t, so that’s gonna be a civil issue. They’re gonna have to take that up tomorrow, like Corporal Nelson said, with the company, if the money wasn’t actually refunded, and it’s his right as the store clerk to refuse her service, so she has to leave, unfortunately.”

  • Monroe, La. — Cpl. Wilson makes a traffic stop on a vehicle that is allegedly “swerving all over the road.” The driver denies swerving and says she was on the phone “I was distracted.” Cpl. Wilson: “Illegal.” The latter subsequently gets into an argument with Ofr. Smith who is among some other cops who arrived on scene.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Cpl. Shannon Tolman responds to a shots-fired call at or near an apartment complex.