By By SHERRY DIGMON
Advance Staff Writer
A massive checkpoint operation on Curtis Road Sunday afternoon netted 35 arrests and more than 200 traffic citations and warnings.
Eighty-one officers from 14 law enforcement agencies conducted two checkpoints on Curtis Road from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Curtis Road is located just south of I-65 off Highway 21. One checkpoint was at the intersection of Curtis Road and Rodeo Lane, the second at the intersection of Curtis Road and Ahern Road.
Hawsey said the operation was in response to multiple complaints about the high volume of traffic on Curtis Road on Sunday afternoons.
A total of 14 people were arrested for drug charges and transported to the Escambia County Detention Center. They are:
Quinn Phillips, 30, Bragg Street, Atmore, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Anthony West, 31, Smith Dairy Road, Atmore, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Clinton Stallworth, 31, Pensacola, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Robert Earl Dudley, 31, Pensacola, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Alfred Malone, 19, Frisco City, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Marcus Rodgers, 24, Mobile, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Brian Shaw, 30, Mobile, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
Frederick Sullivan, 27, Mount Vernon, charged with possession of marijuana first degree
Tywar Gastar, 24, Mobile, charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance and possession of marijuana second degree
Tony Keith, 26, Talledega, charged with possession of controlled substance
Annie R. Finch, 41, Bay Minette, charged with possession of marijuana first degree
Kristopher Stewart, 22, Atmore, charged with possession of controlled substance and possession of marijuana second degree
Scott Davis, 22, Atmore, charged with possession of controlled substance and possession of marijuana second degree
Jeff Montgomery, 28, Brooks Lane, Atmore, charged with possession of marijuana second degree
A total of 110 traffic citations were issued which included one DUI, two driving without license, 27 driving with suspended or revoked
license, three improper child restraint, 15 no seat belt, six improper tag, 39 no insurance or proof of insurance, one improper lights and 16 other violations. Officers also wrote 109 warning tickets.
There were 21 alcohol related arrests made for open container violations, five minor in possession or consumption of alcohol and one possession of untaxed beverage violation. Officers also served one felony warrant and two misdemeanor warrants at the checkpoints.
All vehicles were stopped and drivers were asked to produce drivers license and proof of insurance. Vehicles were checked for proper tag, proper lights and seat belt usage by the occupants of the vehicle.
Alabama State Troopers were on site to manage the traffic enforcement, and Alabama Beverage Control agents were also present to coordinate alcohol and other related violations. The 21st Drug Task Force handled all illegal drug related investigations. Narcotic Detector Dogs were utilized to "sniff out" drugs. Canines from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Atmore Police Department, Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office and the Mobile County Sheriff's Office participated in the searches.
A chase vehicle was located at each checkpoint. Several drivers turned around when they realized the checkpoint was ahead, but officers chased them down. In one instance, two men were arrested for possession of marijuana second degree after they turned around and attempted to leave. Other vehicles that attempted to avoid the checkpoint were spotted by pilots of a helicopter from the Alabama R.A.I.D. Unit who then radioed patrol units to stop the vehicles.
The Sheriff's Office conducted a surveillance of the area for several weekends and did find a major amount of traffic travelling the roadway.
All officers involved in the operation met at the Sheriff's Substation in Atmore early Sunday afternoon for a briefing.
The Sheriff's Office had correctional officers on the scene to process any felony arrests, and transport units standing by to take prisoners to jail.
The 14 agencies involved were the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force, Alabama Department of Public Safety, Alabama Beverage Control Board, Alabama R.A.I.D. (Army National Guard Unit), Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office, Mobile County Sheriff's Office, Baldwin County Drug Task Force, Covington County Sheriff's Office, Escambia County District Attorney's Office, Atmore Police Department, Poarch Creek Police Department, Brewton Police Department and the Monroeville Police Department.