Fake checkpoint leads to arrests

Nevada Daily Mail

The Vernon County Sheriff's Office held a checkpoint for six hours Friday, but one that did not stop individual vehicles unless drivers responded to the checkpoint signs in a suspicious or illegal manner.

Sheriff Jason Mosher said this is the first time Vernon County took part in a "ruse checkpoint" which included a parked sheriff's office vehicle with its lights on and signs announcing a checkpoint on southbound Interstate 49 at Milo.

But instead of stopping people at an actual checkpoint, members of the Vernon County Sheriff's Office, Bates County and Community Narcotics Enforcement Team would watch for drivers exiting to avoid the supposed checkpoint. "Spotters" parked on a hill off the freeway would determine if those exiting were local residents and would at times run the tags of those from out of town to see if there was a warrant out for the vehicle owner.

If a vehicle seemed especially suspicious and made an illegal act, such as running the stop sign or other action, the spotter would inform other officers parked out of sight who would pull the drivers over and possibly do a vehicle search, using the available K-9 unit to sniff out illegal substances if that was believed necessary.

As a result, about 12 arrests were made, including charges of possession of controlled substances, driving while revoked and active warrants.

Mosher says the interstate running past Nevada is a key route from northern cities such as Kansas City for individuals who might be transporting drugs or other illegal substances to the south.

"If we can find a way to stop it before it even gets distributed, we can make even more of an impact on our community," Mosher says.

Mosher said the Sheriff's Office decided in the last month to try the false checkpoint, which Bates County has done in the past.

"Other states were having a lot of success with it," Mosher said.

Mosher said he had heard of other departments and areas deciding not to do it since those they might catch with illegal substances are just driving through the area anyway, and would not impact their immediate region. But Mosher said his department is glad to do it if it prevents drugs from reaching other areas and hopes other counties and states will be willing to do it to prevent drugs from reaching Nevada.

Mosher says they may conduct a false checkpoint again in upcoming months, possibly at a different time of day, in an attempt to prevent other illegal substances from traveling through the area. Their goal is not to inconvenience local drivers, but to watch for non-locals who respond to a checkpoint suspiciously.