Tag Archives: chp bishop

Community News, Local News

New Year’s DUI Arrests Decrease Across State, but Increase in Bishop Area

The California Highway Patrol conducted its Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the New Year in response one of the biggest binge-drinking holidays in the United States.

“For this New Year’s Day Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), the CHP will be deploying all available personnel from 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2020.  The CHP will focus on impaired drivers.” CHP said in a press release.

On a state-wide level, DUI arrest numbers drastically decreased, with a total of 491 people arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances. Last year, there were 1,140 arrests during the CHP MEP.

One major factor as to why there were far less arrests, is because the Maximum Enforcement Period lasted a much shorter duration. The 2019-2020 MEP went on for just thirty hours compared to the 2018-2019 period, which lasted for 102 hours.

DUI arrests this year for the Inland Division of the California Highway Patrol followed the trend of decreased arrests throughout the state. Last year, the CHP Inland Division arrested ninety-six people on suspicion of impaired driving, with three fatal traffic collisions occurring As for this MEP, there were a total of forty-one arrests with no fatal accidents occurring.

Although arrests were down state-wide for driving under the influence, that was not the case in the Bishop area. Bishop CHP arrested three people, whereas during the last New Year’s MEP, there were no drivers charged with operating a vehicle while impaired.

As for the Bridgeport Area CHP, two people were charged with DUI. During the previous year, three people were arrested for drinking and driving.

KIBS/KBOV Announcements

Woman Arrested in Poverty Hills Area After Crashing

A woman was arrested Thursday after a vehicle spin-out in Poverty Hills.

22 year old, Kianna Hoops from Reno, Nevada was driving a gray Honda Accord south of Big Pine when she lost control of her vehicle for an unknown reason and spun out.

When Hoops lost control of her vehicle, CHP arrived on the scene to investigate the accident. While conducting an inspection, the officer checked inside the vehicle and discovered a lever action firearm as well as a small amount of drugs.

After running the serial number, the officer determined that the firearm was not registered to Hoops, and was stolen.

Kianna Hoops was subsequently arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was detained and booked at the Inyo County Jail. Her bail is set for $15,000.

KIBS/KBOV Announcements

Bishop Man Arrested for Attempted Murder

BISHOP, CA. April 29, 2019 – Inyo County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched shortly after midnight to South Valley View, Bishop, CA, for a report of a gunshot victim with the suspect still on scene.

Sheriff’s Deputies along with the assistance of California Highway Patrol, Mono County Sheriff, and Bishop Police arrived at the location and made entry into the residence. The victim was located with a gunshot wound to the leg.

Justin Montgomery, a 37-year old Bishop man, was arrested on the following charges: attempted murder, assault with a firearm on a person, domestic violence, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, violation of domestic violence court order, and violation of probation.

The victim was transported to Northern Inyo Hospital; Montgomery was arrested without incident and booked into the Inyo County Jail.

Local News

High Speed crash at the Bishop Gun Club

Mammoth Man Cited for Reckless Driving following Sunday Accident

The California Highway Patrol says 25-year old Mammoth resident Rene Suarez was behind the wheel of a gold Lexus GS300 that plowed into the rear of a BMW sports utility vehicle Sunday afternoon north of Bishop. According to Bishop CHP public information officer Dennis Cleland, Suarez was cited for reckless driving and released to Northern Inyo Hospital for treatment of what were referred to as minor injuries.
Cleland says that just prior to 4pm Sunday afternoon Suarez was driving at a high speed, estimated by officers in excess of 100 mph, southbound on highway 395 just south of Ed Powers Road. Officers indicate Suarez was driving aggressively including driving on both shoulders while passing vehicles. According to Cleland, an CHP unit initiated a vehicle stop when the suspect vehicle collided with the rear of a southbound BMW driven by a Studio City California resident. After the initial collision both vehicles slid across both northbound lanes of 395 crashing through a fence at the Bishop Gun Club. The Lexus continued through a second fence before stopping. The driver and passengers of the BMW did not require medial transportation. The crash remains under investigation.

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