This Weekend’s On Patrol: Live Highlights, Commentary, and Social Media Activity
An On Patrol: Live recap including NYC studio host Dan Abrams’ puns, analysis, and banter with co-anchor Curtis Wilson (a Richland County, S.C., deputy sheriff), and Captain Tom Rizzo (Howell Township, N.J., PD) along with the often-snarky or playful social media reaction, follows.
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Regular analyst Tom Rizzo has still yet to be named the official replacement for predecessor Sean “Sticks” Larkin, but that may be owing to a contractual matter, i.e., issues related to Larkin’s contract terms or status. The way things often work in the media, no official announcement may ever occur. Larkin’s image still appears in some OPL promotional materials, though.
Highlights: The episode featured several police pursuits as well as a port-a-potty pinch. Also, On Patrol: Live Nation engaged in much speculation about a Knox County officer’s accent. It turns out that she is originally from the U.K. See her purported LinkedIn profile.
Agency update: So far in 2025, On Patrol: Live has followed only seven agencies. And Toledo PD is on a break from On Patrol: Live, but it sounds like that the hiatus will be only be temporary, and Ofr. Heather Smith and her colleagues will return to the show soon.
For background information about the documentary series On Patrol: Live (i.e., Live PD 2.0), that airs on the Reelz channel (which is available, e.g., on the Peacock and FreeCast streaming services and on some satellite and cable systems ), click here.
And click here for information on the Live PD vs. On Patrol: Live lawsuit settlement.
On Patrol: Live Summary for January 17, 2025 (#OPL Episode 03-47)
- Clayton County, Ga. — Sgt. Joseph Toombs and Dep. Rob Fleming conduct a traffic stop for alleged fake tags. “Super fake…super fictitious.” Dep. Fleming is re-dispatched to assist on a foot pursuit. While Fleming heads to the scene, On Patrol: Live viewers can hear radio traffic of at least one nearly out-of-breath officer providing updates as he chases the suspect. Fleming: “Welcome to Clayton County — typical Friday.” Cops set up a perimeter in the area of the search and deploy a K9 in the area.
On Patrol: Live host Dan Abrams: “Captain Tom Rizzo, you were talking about the fact that you hear someone almost yelling into the mic or walkie-talkie…” On Patrol: Live studio analyst Rizzo: “It’s one of those things that we are certainly lacking in the training for police officers, but it’s so difficult to keep your adrenaline in check to be able to clearly communicate…not just as you’re running but your adrenaline — because you’re so intent on catching the suspect.” On Patrol: Live Curtis Wilson: “We heard earlier they mentioned bush bond.* That’s where they’re bailing from the vehicle and running into the woodlines. We’re talking about the individuals that they’re trying to chase.” Rizzo: “Bonding with the bushes.” Abrams: “So they were on a traffic stop with someone with fake tags, and they got called off it based on this pursuit that is now ongoing. You heard one of the officers chasing the suspect. The suspect left the vehicle and is now on foot…”
“Welcome to Clayton County — typical Friday.”
Dep. Fleming recap: “We had a traffic stop with Sergeant Toombs. A bush bond, which is a foot pursuit, came out the radio… somebody had run from the traffic stop, so we disengaged with Sergeant Toombs. Got in the car, responded to that location. The description was given out. The person was armed with a handgun, so we had a large perimeter. The vehicle’s description was a BMW, like a sedan, four-door, gray in color. Perimeter was established, K9 hit the ground, but discovered that there was a passenger in the car that they didn’t initially know about. When they came back to retrieve the vehicle to work the investigation, the car was gone, and K9 lost track. But they know who he is. They’re gonna go ahead and obtain warrants, and the investigation is going to be continuous.” Abrams: “Yikes! So that makes the situation a little more difficult.” Rizzo: “Yes it does.”
- Daytona Beach, Fla. — Sgt. Christopher Maher responds to an officer-in-distress call on a traffic stop, but he subsequently learns from dispatch while en route to the scene that the LEO, a deputy presumably from Volusia County, is okay. “The deputy is Code 4.” Abrams: “Sounds a little less dire then when they first got the call there.”
- Richland County, S.C. — Master Dep. Avery Arrington and other units investigate a shots-fired call at an apartment complex. Bullet holes and shell casings found. He also makes contact with a resident who was nearly shot in her apartment, but fortunately she is okay. Dep. Arrington: “[it] came flying past her face…she got pretty lucky.” Abrams: “It’s really good that no one was injured and also really lucky — wow!”
Listen to Dep. Arrington’s recap:
- Daytona Beach, Fla. — Sgt. Maher makes contact with a male at a shopping plaza parking lot for alleged erratic behavior. On Patrol: Live caption: “Report of finger pointing.”
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Rachel Salka respond to a report from an SOS from a trailer and makes contact with an older male (apparently who was concerned about a possible break-in at another home) as well as two other individuals on bicycles.
- Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Christian Monroe responds to a traffic accident and makes contact with a driver at the scene.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Brandon Williams attempts a traffic stop at a convenience store/gas station; the driver foot bails, prompting a pursuit by Williams initially on foot and then an extensive search of the area with multiple units. Car search. On Patrol: Live caption: “Marijuana and gun found.” In the end, the alleged subject is still at large. OPL broadcasts a BOLO for him as provided by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. According to Abrams, “they’re convinced they’re gonna get him. It’s just a question of when and how.”
Cpl. Williams initial summary: “I actually dealt with the individual before. He’s known to actually sell narcotics. He saw me coming to the little store over there. He saw me. He immediately left. He pulled into the gas station right here where he failed to signal. Once I got behind the vehicle, he hopped out of the car; he saw me, and he ran, and I gave chase. I lost him right here. Right now, we got K-9. We’re gonna head back to the car to see if he has anything in the car.”
Cpl. Williams further explains that “he has an AK on a drum, some weed. I actually dealt with the guy. I know who the guy is. When he saw me, he recognized me, and immediately ran. I’m arrested him for weed and also PWITA, PWITA crack cocaine, which is a possession with intent to distribute crack. So right now, what we’re gonna do is inventory the car. We’re gonna charge him with the weed, charge him with the reason for the stop, what was the failure to signal, and also our county ordinance of evading. And then any other stuff I’ll find the car, we’ll charge him with that. But I know who he is…I’ve dealt with him, so we’ll just get warrants. He actually lives pretty close to the area. So we’ll have North Charleston go to his house. He’s probably running towards there. Or if not, he’s still parked bunker down. So what we’ll do, we’ll still conduct a K9 track. And hopefully they can get it pretty quick, but if not, we’ll still try to search for him. He’s probably somewhere close, just a little bit down.”
Abrams: “He’s frustrated; let’s admit it. Cops second-guess themselves when they’re making split-second decisions.” Wilson: “And lots of decisions have to be made. And sometimes, you second-guess if you feel like this guy does. He’s gonna keep on saying it all night.” Abrams…”they’re gonna get him. They know where he lives, they know who he is, et cetera.” The corporal adds that the AK-47 drum allegedly found in the car may have been the reason why he ran. He checks with dispatch if the weapon is stolen but it turns out the serial number doesn’t match the make/model. Cpl. Williams: “That’s common.” Rizzo on the AK-47: “You look at something like this, right, and combined with other criminal offenses that they already found, it’s just — again, what does somebody need that for in a car and then committing crime on top of it. It’s just terrible.”
Cpl. Williams further update before the incident gets wrapped up: “Right now, we still got units in the area. So I lost him right there at the fire department next to the hardware store. So city of Goose Creek actually has the…subdivision where he ran towards. So they have units in there. Right now, we’re just holding what we have. We got our bloodhound right now to come track to the suspect. Hopefully, we can find him and take him into custody. So we’re just waiting until our bloodhound, and we’ll track for him.”
- Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Kirsten Yule-Zaagman and another unit investigate whether someone broke into an abandoned home. (A portion of the incident is filmed with a night vision lens.) Ofr. Yule-Zaagman explains that “so at this point, we’re just checking out the house, making sure that it hasn’t been broken into, checking this vehicle — we don’t know who this vehicle belongs to. And I’m just waiting to hear back from my records to find out who this [belongs to].” She subsequently adds that “we’re gonna get out of here. It doesn’t appear that the house is being broken into.”
- Triple Play #1 — A Dearborn, Mich., pursuit of “a car thief who tried to elude police by using a little ‘reverse psychology.'”
- Daytona Beach, Fla. — With Ofr. Robert Mowery and Sgt. Mike Bryant as backup, Sgt. Maher conducts a traffic stop. “I’m not gonna take you to jail for fleeing; I am gonna take you to jail for reckless driving.”
Listen to Sgt. Maher’s recap:
- Clayton County, Ga. — Dep. Fleming conducts traffic stop for a tag light/tag cover issue. The deputy claims that an odor of weed is coming from the vehicle, which the driver denies. Probable cause car search. Weed in jars as well as edibles and a ledger allegedly found. Dep. Fleming: “…I don’t know why people get so defensive and offensive. They know they’re guilty. I know they know they’re guilty. We’ll be going to Clayton County Jail tonight…”
Dep. Fleming adds that “We’re still gonna conduct a search — continue investigating. The sergeant got a test kit…criminal behavior is real strong. It’s something that we train to look for. And once we see indicators, we can go from there, and start working it…more than likely THC, a little marijuana, and the ledger. I’m gonna try to see if he’s got a gun in the car. That’s what I’m here for every day. I love guns, especially off of felons or drug dealers. To keep our community safe, keep our murder rate low, and continue fighting what the sheriff likes to call fighting crime. That’s what we do. I’m out here doing my job and taking criminals to jail.”
- Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Yule-Zaagman provides backup on a traffic stop where the driver allegedly ran. Multiple cops detain the driver in the backyard of a residence.
- Monroe, La. — Sgt. Scotty Sadler and other members of the High Enforcement Apprehension Team (HEAT) squad make a traffic stop on a pickup truck. A coke baggie is allegedly found in a routine pat-down of one of the occupants. “Did you genuinely forget that was in your pocket?” Probable cause vehicle search.
Sgt. Sadler recap: “So they’re checking warrants on all these individuals, making sure they’re clear. But this young man had about three grams of powder cocaine on him, a little bit of marijuana in the car. So they’re checking these guys. If they’re clear, they advised they’ll just walk away from here. Nothing’s gonna happen to them. This young man is fixing to go to jail for possession of cocaine. And I guess they need to check the window tint too because that was the original traffic stop. [Another officer] is on the phone with his mom now to have her come get the vehicle. And then [Ofr. Serenity Smith] will take him to jail for me, and I’ll start on his affidavit real quick.”
- BOLO segment — a Forest Acres, S.C., (Richland County) house crasher.
- Daytona Beach, Fla. — Friendly traffic stop; suspended license. One of the occupants seems excited to be on camera: “I’m gonna be famous!” Ofr. Mowery: “They’re in a good mood, which I guess is all you can ask for. They’re gonna call a licensed driver and get them up here. I’m gonna check her information, make sure I get everything to her, because if she’s been through this before, then hopefully she get this thing figured out. But I don’t think it’s been suspended long from the story she’s giving me, but I’ll verify all that. We’ll get this figured out.” When the licensed driver shows up on scene, who the motorist describes as her “sugar daddy,” Ofr. Mowery jokes “he’s valid, unlike some people.”
- Triple Play #2 — Ohio highway patrol chase.
Clayton County, Ga. –Sgt. Toombs makes contact with one or more suspicious vehicles in a closed park. “Our parks are closed sundown to sun up.” Listen to the incident summary:
- Berkeley County, S.C. (pre-recorded segment) — Abrams introduces the segment by asserting that “things got off on the ‘wrong foot’ after Corporal Rachel Salka pulled over a pickup on a traffic stop.” Cpl. Salka stopped the vehicle for no tag light. Drug paraphernalia allegedly spotted in the truck. Cpl. Salka summary: “The female subject ended up having methamphetamine in her shoe. And then we also located some fentanyl in a box in the vehicle. She was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. And he male subject was released with the vehicle upon her request.”
“…things got off on the ‘wrong foot…'”
- Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Yule-Zaagman and other cops investigate a possible assault at a residence and make contact with a purported victim and a possible next-door suspect. Paramedics transport the victim to the hospital.
Listen to Ofr. Yule-Zaagman’s brief comments about the incident which may not be an assault:
- Daytona Beach, Fla. — Ofr. Mowery and colleagues make a traffic stop on a -bike and question the cooperative individual about a fellow e-biker driving recklessly that allegedly fled from cops. Abrams: “It sounds like they’re gonna cut him a break since he has been cooperating.”
Listen to Ofr. Mowery’s recap:
- Humboldt County, Calif. (pre-recorded segment) — According to Abrams, “a suspect with multiple warrants attempted to evade deputies by stall-ing, literally.” Dep. Karl Norton and other units have to force open a port-a-potty door to detain a subject hiding therein who has three outstanding warrants. “I know you’re inside; you need to come out.”
“…a suspect with multiple warrants attempted to evade deputies by stall-ing, literally.”
Listen to Dep. Norton’s summary along with a panel discussion about the incident (Abrams: “As I was watching that, I was thinking they should warn her, ‘hey, by the way, if you don’t come out, we’re gonna shake this thing…'”).
- Richland County, S.C. — Dep. Arrington conducts a traffic stop for allegedly running a red light.
- Knox County, Tenn. — Ofr. Monroe initiates a traffic stop on a pickup truck for allegedly speeding. The driver claims that some guys where chasing him. Ofr. Monroe: “The reason I stopped you is you were going extremely fast. So fast that your hood is actually smoking.” The driver is taken into custody. Ofr. Monroe explains that “so, right now this guy is gonna go to jail. He’s got extensive history of driving while suspended. He’s got an expired tag, the way he was driving. He’s got a lot of failure to appears. If I write him a ticket, chances are he’s not even gonna show up to court, and we’ll be doing this again. So best course of action for tonight.” The vehicle might also be uninsured.
- Berkeley County, S.C. — Cpl. Salka conducts a traffic stop at a gas station for alleged reckless driving. Open containers and some weed allegedly spotted in the car. Motorist: “I’ve never smoked weed in this car.” Vehicle search.
- Clayton County, Ga. — Dep. Fleming and other LEOs respond to a car accident apparently in connection with a pursuit.
- Knox County, Tenn. — As the On Patrol: Live episode concludes, Ofr. Monroe responds to a scene where a car is a ditch in the woods; he makes contact with the driver.
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