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As an influx of meth and heroin hits our communities, theft and burglaries go hand in hand, The Seadrift Police have been inundated with cases and arrests. Recently Chief Bermea reported almost 50 percent of traffic stops were producing narcotics. Seadrift officers have received extensive training in drug interdiction and have been working overtime in building cases that lead to more arrests.
In one recent incident, all three Seadrift officers were already on duty working a narcotics case, when a known suspect refused to stop and at one point was traveling at 90 miles per hour, passing cars on the shoulder, raising a cloud of sand and debris, Officer Louis Warren pursued the vehicle with lights and siren trying to warn the motorists who were streaming into town because of the rush of evening traffic. Vehicles were pulling off to the side of the road in both lanes as the vehicle and the police unit were splitting the lanes down the middle of the highway until the suspect came upon a line of traffic headed north out of Seadrift. At that point, the fleeing vehicle could not stop in time without ramming into the back of northbound traffic and decided to take to the grass before coming to a halt,
Seadrift officers Chief Bermea and Officer Robert Montero immediately responded as Officer Warren ordered the man out of the vehicle. A large amount of meth was seized; the vehicle impounded and the suspect immediately arrested, It was the third such arrest in three days.
Chief Bermea stated that a typical day starts “last night” when new information comes in about narcotics coming into town, He must find were its coming from and where it’s going. To do all this, he needs an officer to interview or locate a suspect while he is starting the paperwork and making phone calls. If there are multiple suspects involved, he must have officers talking to several people at the same time alone in order to get uncollaborated info that is accurate. He must build his case and possibly show a judge to confirm he has all of his probable cause and statements in order. All of this will take them late into the night while still needing to be out the next morning to work the school zone and saving Mrs. Myrtles cat. And if an arrest is imminent, then he is looking at having an officer spend part of the night at the jail doing paperwork and admitting the latest inmate – maybe a day or two off duty will come next week.
In the latest incident,18 vehicles and one home were burglarized within a few hour period. The suspects were stealing wallets, sunglasses and two firearms. Seadrift Police and the Calhoun County Sheriffs Dept. immediately responded, investigating and building a case. Within hours the Seadrift police started gathering camera footage from around the community and interviewing residents. In one incident a good citizen confronted the suspects and was able to help police with good information. Knowing that time was crucial, Chief Bermea and Officer Warren started the paperwork, probable cause affidavits, and preparing the necessary paperwork to present to a Judge.
Seadrift Officer Robert Montero was still working the scenes and recovering evidence and stolen items that were discarded about the community. Seadrift Chief Bermea and Officer LT Warren had at this point identified who the suspects were and were making requests for arrest and search warrants. Officer Warren called and spoke with Judge Hunt who was returning from Victoria and offered to meet at 185 and 35 highways. After reading the sworn affidavits and probable cause, the Judge signed two warrants of arrest and a search warrant. Officer Warren then proceeded to Jackson County to meet with officers there and execute the warrants. Chief Bermea and Officer Robert Montero proceeded to Jackson County to assist with the arrests and search. Two suspects were arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and are awaiting extradition to Calhoun County, Since it turned out to be more than one place to be searched, Officer Louis Warren then returned to Port Lavaca to meet with Judge Alex Hernandez “County Court At Law” to request additional search warrants, Those requests were granted.
Stolen items from the community of Seadrift were recovered and at this time 90% of the stolen items have been recovered. Chief Bermea stated that the investigation continues as more information comes in.
Chief Bermea stated that the Seadrift Police take every call seriously and he is grateful for the hard work of his officers, Lieutenant Louis Warren and Officer Robert Montero, who continued to work more than 18 hours straight to solve the case and to Sheriff Bobby Vickery and the Calhoun Sheriff’s Dept. for their help and cooperation, also Chief Wooldridge of the Edna Police and the Judges Alex Hernandez and Wesley J Hunt for taking time out of their night.
Chief Bermea also stated “We have a job to do and the safety and security of our great community rests with me and my officers. We will not let up!
