Latest news with #OwensboroPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
OPD continues Police in the Parks
Moreland Park was teeming with Owensboro Police Department officers on Thursday. But this gathering of law enforcement was an intentional meet and greet with the public that OPD calls 'Police in the Park' — a summer community outreach program. Sgt. Joseph Jones said OPD began hosting it about two years ago as a community event. Jones added that officers are there not only to answer questions, but also to play games or activities with those who show up. '…Do little things, have fun at the parks and an opportunity, again, to see officers in a different light than what they usually do,' he said. Throughout the summer, OPD plans to host at least four 'Police in the Park' events. Jones said the one at Moreland Park was the first for this summer. '…We just choose a random park in the city, try to head out there (to) make hot dogs, bring chips, lemonade…,' he said. Along with the food and games, OPD brought some of its vehicles, such as a restored 1956 Ford police car and current cruisers now utilized by patrol officers. '…It's an opportunity to bring out some things, let them see stuff that we use in our daily work,' Jones said. OPD also invited other local agencies such as the Center of Owensboro-Daviess County, a nonprofit that helps people connect to resources based on their need. Erica Wade, the Center's executive director, was there with the organization's new mobile unit. Wade said the idea is to bring 'community partners' such as Imagination Library to sites like Moreland Park. '…The mobile unit is like a pop-up resource fair,' Wade said. 'So we can bring as many as six community partners with us; we have four 10 by 10 tents that come with it; two private rooms, a waiting area on board and a wifi umbrella. This is our first one, so we kind of went light on this one, so we could see what it was all about. Next time we're hoping to bring some more folks with us.' Although more children were there Thursday, Jones said the Police in the Park events are meant for all ages. 'We had one time at the park that we had more adults come out than kids,' he said. Ultimately, Jones said it's about OPD's effort to bridge the gap between it and the community. '…Most people, their experience with the police is they see them making traffic stops or answering calls for service,' Jones said. 'We want them to see that they can come up to us and talk to us like anybody else … build that rapport, so if there's something going on they can pass that information along. It helps us gather information and helps us solves any crimes that are going on in our community.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Owensboro police host first ‘police in the park' of the summer
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — The Owensboro Police Department took over Moreland Park Thursday afternoon, all for a good time with the people they serve. OPD says the event encourages open communication between local law enforcement and residents. Patrol officers and detectives grilled free meals, talked and answered questions. One woman says she brought her 5-year-old granddaughter after noticing her uneasiness around police. How would phasing out FEMA impact Kentucky? 'I live in the middle of town, and we don't have a lot of police activity. So, I just want her to feel safe and be able to go up to a policeman and say 'help' if she needs help,' says Susan Hall, who attended the event. A mobile resource unit also offered information on food insecurity, housing, employment, and more. Officials say they hope to host 3 more Police in the Park events before the summer is over. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Owensboro Police Department hosts Police in the Park event
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)—Owensboro community members will meet with law enforcement today at a lunchtime event at Moreland Park hosted by the Owensboro Police Department. Texas Roadhouse re-opens in Owensboro Today, Police in the Park returns with free hot dogs, chips, and lemonade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event provides a chance for the community to connect with local officers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Complaint alleges OPD detective seized juvenile's phone without warrant
A complaint has been filed against an Owensboro Police Department detective who witnesses allege seized a cellphone from a juvenile without a warrant Thursday in the Holbrook Judicial Center. Five witnesses, three of whom are unrelated to the juvenile or his court case, gave nearly identical accounts of the incident, which occurred outside courtrooms on the judicial center's third floor Thursday afternoon. The juvenile's public defender, Colin O'Brien, filed a complaint against OPD Sgt. John Preston with OPD's Professional Standards Unit Thursday. 'He literally snatched that phone out of that boy's hand,' said Stephanie Green, who witnessed the incident. 'Even the child said, 'Do you have a warrant?' and his grandmother said, 'Do you have a warrant?' ' Green said. 'He (Preston) was walking away and waving it in the air like, 'ha ha.' ' The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against 'unreasonable search and seizure,' and requires law enforcement to have a search warrant to search homes and seize property under most circumstances. The Supreme Court ruled in 2014 a cellphone can't be searched without a warrant when a person has been arrested. O'Brien said the juvenile was appearing in juvenile court on a 'status offense,' which is an offense only someone under the age of 18 could face. Examples of status offenses are truancy from school, being a runaway or possession of tobacco products by a minor. The juvenile was not in court for any criminal charges, O'Brien said. O'Brien said the juvenile was in the hallway with his grandmother when two detectives, Preston and a second detective, approached and said they wanted to ask the juvenile some questions. The juvenile declined to speak to them, O'Brien said. 'As soon as the first detective asked him if he wanted to talk and (the juvenile) said 'no,' he (Preston) said, 'we are going to be getting a warrant' for the phone, O'brien said. 'Sgt. Preston came up and said, 'We are going to be getting a warrant,' and forcibly took (the phone) out of his hand,' O'Brien said. O'Brien said it appeared that 'Sgt. Preston (was) getting (angry) when the kid said he wouldn't talk to them.' O'Brien said Preston gave his name when asked. Liz Webb, who is not related to the juvenile or his case, said she heard several people question Preston about whether he had a warrant to take the phone. When the juvenile refused to talk to the two detectives, Webb said the first detective started walking away, and that Preston took the phone from the juvenile. 'When he was walking down the hall, he lifted it up and said, 'I'm seizing it without' (a warrant,)' Webb said. Kyle Webb, who also saw the incident, said the unnamed detective was 'very professional,' but that Preston was 'very aggressive.' 'The juvenile had the phone in his hand. He was trying to call somebody,' Kyle Webb said. 'The detective overpowered him.' Kyle Webb said he heard Preston say detectives were going to get a warrant to seize the phone before Preston took it from the juvenile. The detective identified as Preston was 'kind of 'in your face, I've got your stuff now,' ' Kyle Webb said. Patti Cox-Young, the juvenile's grandmother, was with the juvenile, and said his status case was dismissed by the court. The detectives said they wanted 'to talk to him concerning something his name had come up in, and he said, 'I don't want to talk,' ' Cox-Young said. 'He was cooperating, but he just didn't want to talk,' Cox-Young said. After taking the phone away, Preston left with the phone, Cox-Young said. 'I'm a very firm believer in the Constitution,' Cox-Young said and that, 'They trampled' on the juvenile's rights. JD Winkler, deputy chief of police, said a professional standards unit complaint had been filed with OPD in relation to the incident, but that he could not comment further. The Professional Standards Unit investigates complaints made against officers, and sends substantiated complaints to Police Chief Art Ealum for possible disciplinary action. Preston told the Messenger-Inquirer Friday morning, 'We're actively investigating a juvenile crime. I can't speak on that.' When the Messenger-Inquirer clarified that Preston wasn't being asked about any specific investigation but about the seizure of the cell phone, Preston referred comment to Mark Hammonds, OPD's public information officer. The department would not be discussing the incident, Hammonds said. 'I spoke to the major above me, and he advised me there is an ongoing investigation, so OPD will not be giving out any details or making any statements in regard to that investigation,' Hammonds said.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged fentanyl trafficker arrested in Owensboro
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — The Owensboro Police Department have arrested a man accused of trafficking fentanyl. A release obtained by Eyewitness News says Jesse Gonzalez, also known as Jesse Santiago-Gonzalez, was arrested Wednesday after a search of his residence. Santiago-Gonzalez was previously arrested back in January on drug charges after running on foot from a traffic stop. OPD arrests two with multiple drugs, $8,000 in cash Wednesday morning members of OPD's emergency response team, street crimes unit, detectives, criminal investigations division and patrol officers executed a search of in the 100 block of W. 20th Street. Officials with OPD say officers found two AR .223 caliber pistols, a large sum of money and evidence that Santiago-Gonzalez destroyed drugs prior to being taken into custody. Officials have not yet said how much money they found during the search of Santiago-Gonzalez's home. Santiago-Gonzalez is now being held in the Daviess County Jail on the charges listed below: Trafficking in Controlled Substance (Carfentanil or Fentanyl Derivative) Tampering with Physical Evidence Possession of Handgun by Convicted Felon (2 Counts) Aggravated Trafficking Controlled Substance Possession of Marijuana (Enhancement) Drug Paraphernalia Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
