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

A recap of the December 9, 2023, OPL episode (OPL #02-38) appears below.

About 50 On Patrol: Live cameras go into the field with the law enforcement officers usually from eight or nine different U.S. departments during the ride-along on Friday and Saturday evenings as aired on the Reelz channel. 

An On Patrol: Live recap, including NYC studio host Dan Abrams’ one liners, analysis, and banter with co-host Curtis Wilson, the Richland County, S.C., deputy sheriff, and this weekend’s guest analysts — Sgt. Geoff McLendon and Officer Heather Smith (Toledo, Ohio, PD) — follows.

[Click here for the OPL #02-37 recap]

Please review this important DISCLAIMER.

On Patrol: Live Summary for December 9, 2023 (#OPL Episode 02-38)

  • Daytona Beach, Fla. — Ofr. Robert Mowery if the first cop on the scene of a two-car accident in which the occupants of one of the vehicles, an SUV, allegedly fled. Caption: “Investigating hit and run.” LEOs, including Ofr. Brandon Ramirez, detain two men nearby, at least one of whom is identified by an accident eyewitness who was not involved in the crash. In traffic surveillance footage obtained by OPL, it appears that the other vehicle, however, actually caused the accident. Mowery: The SUV driver “likely gonna be going to jail for leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and so on and so forth depending upon what the investigation brings up.” Sgt. McLendon underscores the importance of keeping witnesses at the scene while the accident is processed.

Ofr. Mowery: “We originally thought that the female involved, she was going to be the victim car, but it looks like she’s the one who caused the accident. She had a yellow light which means she’s supposed to yield for oncoming traffic. She didn’t yield and actually pulled out in front of the SUV. Unfortunately, as soon as that happened, all the males from the vehicle fled. You can clearly see in the video that the guy we have in custody was actually operating in the vehicle. So he’s gonna go for fleeing the scene of an accident involving injuries and a slew of other charges. He hasn’t had a license since ’97 from what we’re gathering. He used to have one in Texas, and he knew he was supposed to stop, and he just didn’t. That’s how his night is gonna go, and that’s gonna be the end of it..”

  • Since the SUV driver was not in the wrong in the accident, Abrams wondered if that changed things. Sgt. McLendon: “Unfortunately, you still can’t leave the scene of an accident. So if you’re involved in an accident, you can’t leave. So he’s probably gonna get charged with that like he said, and then the other thing was he’s probably drinking and driving. They had the open containers. He had the beer on him. So they’re probably gonna investigate that as well, and he’ll probably be charged with that as well…” Abrams: “And we’ll see, again, whether he ends up passing, if they even test him, on the field sobriety aspect.” Abrams also deemed it amazing that the technology enables the surveillance video to be provided to the cops at the scene so quickly.
  • Indian River County, Fla. — Dep. Jon Lozada, along with the fire department responds to a car teetering on the edge of a ditch. The driver, who lives nearby, says that she was was returning from shopping and missed a turn. Caption: “Son of a ditch.” Deputy Ruiz responds to the scene to conduct a DUI investigation. The driver declines to participate in field sobriety testing and is arrested on suspicion of DUI. The driver’s husband makes an arrangement with the tow truck driver to tow the vehicle to their home down the road rather than to the impound lot. In an update, Abrams indicates that the driver allegedly blew a .32 on a breathalyzer at the station, i.e., four times the legal limit, “and what they did, is because of the elevated level, they’re gonna take her to the hospital.” Sgt. McLendon: “Makes sense why she missed the turn, though.” Dep. Wilson expresses thanks that nobody was harmed, and Abrams agrees: “The fact that no one was hurt is unbelievable, but there again, we see a lot of these field sobriety tests on this show, we see a lot of the numbers come in, I haven’t seen many higher than .32.” McLendon: “That’s pretty high.” Ofr. Smith: “Possible functioning alcoholic.”

Earlier in the segment, Abrams observed that “A lot of driving problems tonight on the show.”

  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Dep. Hunter Rogers conducts a traffic top on an alleged wrong-way driver operating a pick-up truck. Caption: “Driver the wrong way.” No license. Another deputy conducts field sobriety testing, and the driver is arrested on suspicion of DUI.
  • Toledo, Ohio — Officers make contact with a complainant at a residence perhaps in connection with car thefts in the area. Ofr. Shade Keeney: “Sounds like there was somebody hanging out on the porch. We came over here just because we’ve had a lot of vehicle thefts over here in the area in the last couple of nights. They’ve been stealing Kias out of the neighborhood. We got here; they said that the gentleman was already gone. They didn’t know if maybe they were here to visit the upstairs neighbor. So we’re gonna check the area, make sure there isn’t anybody out here hanging out or casing for cars.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Multiple deputies respond to a concert that reportedly got out of hand and gather information from several complainants. Caption: “Report of disturbance.”
  • Toledo, Ohio — Ofr. Austin Bly responds to a report of a wrong-way driver on the highway. Bly: “So we got an update that it’s an SUV, and it’s actually headed in the right direction right now. I’m still gonna try to kind of get in the area to see.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. (pre-recorded segment) — Cpls. Brandon Williams and another unit make contact with two men at a bar who, according to Abrams, allegedly “were being less than cooperative.” They detain the duo outside. Small amount of weed found in vehicle. One man has a warrant from another county and will be arrested provided the warrant is confirmed.
  • Lee County, S.C. — Det. Phillip Sin conducts a traffic stop during which, according to Abrams, he “found some ‘oregano.'” Caption: “Marijuana found.” The driver says he was scared to initially tell the officer that weed was in the car, which prompts Sin to ask “you scared of weed”? Sin mentions to the driver that he is going to do him “a solid.” Det. Sin: “Found the marijuana in the trunk. Turns out he was just scared to tell me the truth. I guess he bought a bottle, and someone tossed weed in the trunk. Looks like party favors and stuff like that…despite not telling me the truth about having the marijuana in the first place, he’s polite. So more than likely, I’ll just document this, take the marijuana, and submit it for destruction.” Abrams update: “The weed was destroyed. The guy was released with no charges.”
  • Toledo, Ohio — Ofr. Bly is re-dispatched to a stolen vehicle stop. At least one of the occupants allegedly foot bailed. Cops set up a perimeter, and Ofrs. Greg Long Jr. and Shade Keeney search a residential neighborhood for the subjects. One man is detained in a wooded area. The search for the others is ongoing. Ofr. Keeney: “Sounds like police tried to stop a car. The car took off. The occupants bailed out. We originally thought it was just one. It sounds like there was also three or four other occupants…so we had a K9 to come in here and help search. And we’ll try to keep an eye out for the other occupants in the car.” Abrams: “So this is now an active search.” Ofr. Bly: “We’re gonna continue to look and track with the K9…”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Sgt. Bryce Hughes provides backup on a traffic stop. A small amount of weed is allegedly found. With the motorist and other units on scene, Sgt. Hughes jokes about Blunt Power Air Freshener. She asks about whether “there is any cash-back guarantee if the cops still smell your weed.” Hughes adds that “I’m sorry, man; I’m not trying to make fun of your situation here, but it’s a little funny, right?” Abrams: “I can just picture the people who invented that spray, right, being like, ‘hey, you now what, we’ll say that it kills the scent of marijuana, and everyone will buy it, yeah!” Abrams update on the stop: “It turns out his marijuana was confiscated but he was able to keep his gun. He was released with no charges.”
  • Lee County, Fla. (pre-recorded segment) — Dep. Daniel Ochs and other units respond to a ‘medical call that turned into a possible physical disturbance” at a convenience store, and interact with an older man who says he was assaulted. Paramedics summoned. Cops indicate no assault occurred. Ochs: “So at the very least, he’s gonna receive some treatment, whether he stays there or not. That’s up to him, but it will kind of solve the problem for the night.” Abram: “Here’s the clue that I missed the first time I saw this. Bloomer was the name, right, and it was a weed whacker. That’s the part I missed here.” To Ofr. Smith, Abrams says “you deal with people who are somewhat incoherent all the time, right?” Smith: “Yes. That happens quite frequently on the job whether it’s something else going on with their life or they’re intoxicated, drugs, or got beat up by a weed whacker.”
  • Indian River County, Fla. — Cops responds to a suspicious vehicle parked outside a convenience store for two hours. Dep. Lozada also obtains information from store employees that the driver may allegedly have been doing something inappropriate in the car apparently based on what another customer purportedly claimed. Caption: “Giving himself a hand.” The driver denies the allegation. Field sobriety testing. Abrams makes reference to the “investigation continuing by the long arm of the law.” The driver passes the FST and is advised to leave the premises. Abrams: “No self-serve at this convenience store.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Sgt. Hughes and Cpl. Ethyn Perkins respond to a report of a fight at a trailer park and after finding the correct address, gather information from various parties there. Sgt. Hughes “I’m confused about everything.” Cpl. Perkins mentions there’s somewhat of a language barrier and that that the on-call interpreted has been called. He goes on to say “From what I’m gathering…he was able to tell us that the younger guy and this lady do stay here, I’m not sure if he said they were boyfriend or girlfriend, I might have misunderstood that, and they stay over there. I guess the younger guy wanted to fight both the women because he’s been drinking, so we’re just trying to get their story. I know that the younger guy, he just wants to go off and do his own thing, so we’re just trying to figure out what we’re gonna do just to try to make sure that everybody goes home safe.”
  • Triple Play #3 — Jacksonville, Ark.

Abrams: “The number of times, I’m sure you guys have seen this, where people think that getting home is like sort of home base, right, safety. Sgt. McLendon: They think that every time, but it’s not really…” Abrams: “It doesn’t change anything.” Ofr. Smith: “You can still be arrested at your house.” Abrams: “Yeah, if you’ve been driving there. Only if you haven’t been driving a vehicle, and you’ve been staying in your house, then it’s a different story.”

  • Toledo, Ohio — Officers respond to a disturbance at a bar in which the bartender was allegedly assaulted. Paramedics also summoned. Lots of shouting at the scene. Ofr. Long: “I don’t know what the hell is going on. My brain can’t function around with a whole bunch of screaming…I can’t even think right now. Let me out of here and get some fresh air.” Apparently the aggressor may have left before cops arrived. Abrams:” I was a little bit relieved to hear Officer Long say he didn’t know what was going on because it meant that it wasn’t that I was missing something there. But again, on the bigger picture, this is what happens. You come on to a scene, people are yelling and screaming, pointing fingers at each other or not, and your role is ‘got to figure out what’s going on here.'” Ofr. Smith: “Right. You just got to take it in as it comes. Sometimes it’s quicker to try and calm them down so you can figure what’s actually going on.” Sgt. McLendon: “Everyone wants to tell their side of the story, that’s the thing.” Abrams: “Yeah — and when they’re yelling and screaming, it doesn’t help. And when it’s in a bar, and people have been drinking, and that doesn’t help.”

Ofr. Long: “So right now it seems like we got a drunken mess at the bar. She was trying to remove some individuals from the bathroom and was struck with a pool stick and a glass. So we’re not sure who the suspect was but I did speak with her before entering the bar. So we’re going to document what happened tonight and hopefully she can identify the female who struck her, and she can press charges on here for assault at a later date.”

  • Missing Update and New Missing Segment (Wilmington, Del.)
  • Indian River County, Fla. — Dep. Lozada responds to a noise complaint from a neighbor and the homeowner in question agrees to turn down the music. “If you’re too loud, you’re disturbing the neighbors. Not just the music, you guys as well; the whole beer bottle throwing and being loud and screaming, and all that. Now it’s starting to affect the neighbors, and when they call us, and we have to get involved, that’s when you start to get in trouble for citations, ordinances, all that stuff.”
  • Daytona Beach, Fla. — Ofrs. Ramirez and Matt Grosse make contact with an older man on a domestic incident. He allegedly threated to hit his wife. The man is taken into custody. Ofr. Ramirez update: “We just dropped [the man] off at our police department to be held until the paperwork is complete, and he can be sent off to jail. Whenever we ran his driver’s license, it came back that he’s on…inmate release status for second-degree murder. This whole argument started over some lasagna. I don’t think it was worth it. But I believe the female that’s the victim definitely needs to get away from this guy because he’s obviously a violent person the way he acted tonight, in what the threats that he made to his wife, even the way that he was speaking about her. I think she needs to get as far away from him as possible. But it’s a good thing we got him off the streets, and she’s gonna be safe tonight.” Abrams: “Forget the lasagna: second-degree murder…this is a frightening guy.”
  • Coweta County, Fla. — Dep. Myles Moran conducts a traffic stop on a vehicle for a lights infraction. “So her vehicle was involved in a crash. The air bag in the steering wheel is out…that’s the reason that she’s telling me that her lights are not operating.”
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Dep. Rogers and another unit conduct a traffic stop at a gas station. K9 deployed; K9 alert. Probable cause car search. The driver is also subjected to a squat search. Dep. Rogers: “So far, it’s just a lot of paraphernalia. Meth pipes, needles, scale, white residue, a little bit of heroin. Residue over there, as well as meth amphetamine. But as far as any actual hard dope, nothing’s been located so far.”
  • Toledo, Ohio — Ofr. Bly and other units, along with the fire department, respond to a car accident in a residential area in which a car came to halt next to a tree and appears practically demolished. The driver and any passengers may have fled the scene. Investigation ongoing. Ofr. Bly: “We’re probably gonna check the area here and see if we can find the driver. My initial guess is that they were coming northbound, and hit the telephone pole, spun out in between the tree and the house here. But as of right now, it sounds like they fled northbound on foot…we’ll take down the information of the car, see if it matches the description of the owner…as I was taking down the plate on the vehicle to see who owns the vehicle, as I looked inside, there’s a full 9-millimeter round in front of the the driver’s seat. So I’m assuming that the driver possible had a gun on him, and is not supposed to, and fled the scene. So I’m gonna go look him up, see where he lives, see if he matches the description that they gave out over the air, and then we’ll start the clean-up process here…” Bly subsequently adds that the ID picture is over 40 years old, “so it’s not gonna match the description that came out…we’ll send this action report up to our hit-skip unit, and they’ll follow up with the owner of the vehicle. Right now, we’re just started determining if the tow truck can get that out before the power company comes and has to block out the road, and make sure none of these wires are hot. So it will be a long, lengthy clean-up process here…”

Sgt. McLendon: “It seems like…they had a description for the suspect that didn’t match the owner of the vehicle, so I’d be curious to see if the owner reports the vehicle stolen. We get that a lot of times where there is an accident, and the vehicles get reported stolen.” Abrams: “After — so there’s an accident and, what, the person is trying to make it seem like the car was stolen even if it wasn’t… sometimes I guess it was, right?” Smith: “Sometimes it can be, but they don’t know what happened at this point; that’s why they’re gonna send it up to our hit-skip unit.” Abrams: “Again, whoever was driving that is lucky to be alive tonight.”

  • Indian River Valley, Fla. — Dep. Mathew Baumann responds to another noise complaint and asks the homeowner, who is hosting a 8oth birthday party, to turn down the music a little bit. Caption: “All I want for Christmas is quiet.” Abrams quips that “the neighbors didn’t call about the fact they turned the house into a planetarium, but they called about the music apparently being a little loud.”
  • Richland County, S.C. — Sgt. Hughes and other units provide a vehicle assist for motorist with a disabled car, possibly from a dead battery.
  • Berkeley County, S.C. — Dep. Rogers is re-dispatched as backup for Cpl. Cameron Blackmon to a nearby traffic stop. Voluntary car search. Meth amphetamine allegedly found inside some gloves in the car.
  • Toledo, Ohio — Officers make contact with some juveniles on a report of a fight. One of the juveniles has cell phone video of the purported incident.