STATE POLICE ISSUE FIRST HALF OF YEAR REPORT

Through effec­tive traf­fic enforce­ment the Ohio State High­way Patrol is sig­nif­i­cantly impact­ing the crim­i­nal ele­ment on pub­lic road­ways and in com­mu­ni­ties. By troop­ers tak­ing extra time dur­ing each traf­fic stop, and pay­ing close atten­tion to pos­si­ble indi­ca­tors of crim­i­nal activ­ity — what started as a traf­fic stop can quickly esca­late into a felony arrest.

Through June of this year the Patrol reports 2,685 felony cases, with 46 per­cent related to a felony drug charge and nearly 27 per­cent related to a felony assault charge.

In addi­tion, troop­ers have made 4,728 drug arrests dur­ing the first six months of 2013, an increase of 18 per­cent over the same time-frame in 2012, and an increase of 42 per­cent when com­pared to the pre­vi­ous three-year aver­age.

Dur­ing the first 6 months troop­ers have seized more pre­scrip­tion pills with stim­u­lants up 101 per­cent; depres­sants up 87 per­cent; and hal­lu­cino­gens up 77 per­cent when com­pared to the pre­vi­ous three-year aver­age.

Dri­vers are encour­aged to call #677 to report impaired dri­ving or drug activity.