HomeMy Public PortalAboutCrimeStar News March 7,1966
McCall police cope with
soaring crime rate
BY JEANNE SEOL
The Star -News
Reported crime has tripled in
McCall during the last 12 years, with
violent and juvenile crime increasing
significantly, McCall Police Depart-
ment statistics show.
Last year, 1,342 felonies and mis-
demeanors were reported to the
McCall Police Department, compared
to 484 of those same crimes reported
in 1984.
But McCall police officers are
catching up to reported crime. The
number of arrests made by McCall
officers has increased five times, from
91 arrests made in 1984 to 438 arrests
made in 1995, according to police
department figures.
The department has also doubled
in size since 1984 to keep.up with the
work load, according to Chief Ed
Parker. The department currently
employs 10 full -time officers and one
support officer who is funded by grant
money.
Officers are also now patrolling 22
square miles - almost double the area
they patrolled 12 years ago - because
of more land annexed by the city,
Parker said.
Parker attributes the rise in reported
crime to a greater influx of people
traveling through the area, and he said
the rise in arrests is due to having
more officers on the street.
Det. Britt Durfee said crime in
McCall has always been present, but
more officers, are making more ar-
rests, and more citizens are starting to
report crime.
"Neighborhood watches are start-
ing to form and citizens are becoming
more confident that McCall police
will respond and solve crimes," he
said.
Lt. Carla Donica agreed. "The
crime has always been here; we just'
haven't had the manpower'to catch it.
Now we do."
Since 1984, a full -time juvenile
detective and full -time narcotics de-
tective have been added to the McCall
Police Department, in response to
more juvenile crime and more drug,
related crime in the McCall area. A'
drug dog has also been trained and. is
used to locate drugs at a crime scene:
"Juvenile crime is not only increas=
ing in McCall, but is skyrocketing
through the entire state and nation,"
Durfee said. "We're seeing a lot more
repeat juvenile offenders."
Since 1990, state Bureau of Crimi-
nal Identification records show
juvenile drug and paraphernalia of-
fenses have quadrupled in the state,
and tobacco violations and driving
while intoxicated charges have
doubled.
In addition, McCall is seeing more
drug- related crime, and police have
taken a zero - tolerance policy against
violators.
"In the past, the status -quo was to
try and get offenders to roll over their
local dealers for a reduced sentence,
and then go after the local dealer to try
to make them name their supplier,"
Det. Jim Kangas said. "But now the
offenders are going to go to jail; they
will be held responsible. The roll-
over method is in the past."
Although local crime is increas-
ing, arrests are also increasing because
of more citizen assistance to the po-
lice department, Parker said.
"Citizens are getting to be a more
active part of our community policing
method all the time," Parker said.
"We want to be pro- active in fighting
crime, not reactive, and citizen in-
, volvement is a key to that policing
theory."
Parker said part of that policing
involves. more patrol by officers.
McCall residents should expect to see
police cars on their streets and offic-
ers keeping an eye out for crime.
1984
1995
484
13
1984
1995
Star -News graphic by Tomi Grote
McCall's crime activity, 1984 -95.
Star News January 2, 1985 Page 1 of 2
Crime wave
shakes McCall
By Randall Brooks
The Star -News
While it wasn't much by "big
city" standards, the McCall
Police Department was kept plen-
ty busy during 1984 with several
rare crimes as well as an unusual
string of residential and business
burglaries.
By the end of the year, an arm-
ed robbery and many of the
burglaries had been cleared by
Chief John Lyon's department,
but robbers of the Idaho First
National Bank in McCall were
still at large.
The small -town crime wave
began early, on Jan. 6, when of-
ficers were called to the city's
first armed robbery in many
years at the Circle R convenience
store.
Cash was taken at gunpoint
from a store cashier and the rob-
ber fled. But one -half hour later,
a Valley County Sheriff's deputy
had taken a McCall man mat-
ching the robber's description in-
to custody. Three loaded hand-
guns, a loaded rifle, ammunition
and cash were recovered from the
car.
Danny Lee Olin, 25, was
charged with robbery, use of a
firearm in the commission of a
robbery, and aggravated assault.
On March 20, a Valley County
jury found Olin guilty of armed
robbery and use of a firearm in
commission of a robbery. He was
sentenced to 10 years in prison
under the state's indeterminate
sentence law, but was released
later in the year after successfully
completing terms of the sentence.
McCall's other first came
about 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 24,
when a lone gunman entered the
Idaho First National Bank, show-
ed an on -duty teller a note,
displayed a gun, and left with an
undisclosed amount of cash.
Witnesses said an accomplice
may have been in a getaway car.
That car later was found aban-
doned less than one block from
the bank.
McCall police Sgt. Larry Olsen
was less than one block away at
the time the call came in and went
to the bank, as did officer Lewis
Pratt, but not in time to allow
any pursuit.
Lyon, at the Lardo Grill and
Saloon at the time, also tried to
respond to the call. But someone
had jammed toothpicks into the
door locks of his patrol car, forc-
ing him to break the window with
a hammer to gain entry.
Officers in Valley, Idaho,
Washington, and Adams coun-
ties were notified and an air
search was sent up, but the bank
robbers avoided capture.
After an investigation by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
linked him to the robbery, a
federal fugitive warrant was
issued by the FBI in early
November for Paul Robert
Tetzlaff, 45. If caught and con-
victed, Tetzlaff could serve up to
25 years in federal prison.
Summertime was burglary time
in McCall in 1984, as a wave of
both business and residential
Stdh Ne uI5 Jatz ua r y,,i
burglaries kept Lyon's in-
vestigators baffled from May un-
til late September. At least 27
separate incidents were reported
by The Star -News.
The first major spree began in
late May and by the first week of
June, involved cash removed
from businesses such as The Star -
News, Danish Mill Bakery, Si
Bueno, Bill's Gas and Grocery,
Wooden Horse Boutique and Thee
Mill restaurant.
On Aug. 29, burglars again
entered The Star -News and
Danish Mill Bakery, taking petty
cash and a police radio scanner
from The Star -News and cash
from the Danish Mill. The Hong
Chow Restaurant in downtown
McCall also was burglarized that
night.
When a floor safe containing
an undisclosed amount of cash
was taken from the Aspen
Market, a group of McCall
businessmen formed a night
watch patrol to supplement
police surveillance.
A breakthrough in the crime
spree came on Sept. 22 when two
McCall businessmen on stakeout,
Ron Goodman and Skip Woods,
saw two juveniles entering the
Red Steer Restaurant. Police
were notified and the pair were
arrested at the scene.
The juveniles did not offer any
resistance and within one hour,
Lyon said 14 cases had been
cleared by Officer Roger
Rockwell.
But on Oct. 20 -21, three more
McCall businesses were
burglarized. Included in that str-
ing, where both cash and mer-
chandise were taken, was
Payette Lakes Lumber, Con-
sumer Electronics and again The
Mill restaurant.
Three McCall men were ar-
rested in September in connection
with a pair of home burglaries,
but no arrests have yet been made
in connection with the remaining
break -ins.
Star News January 2, 1985 Page 2 of 2
Photoby Tom Grote
McCall officers inspect weapons from Circle R robbery
The criminal docket for McCall in 1984 included a rare
armed robbery, the first bank robbery in recent history
and an unheard-of rash of home and business burglaries.
The Star News - 3/20/85
Valley cited for low juvenile crime rate
Valley County rates among the best in Idaho for
dealing with juvenile crime, Valley County Probation
officer Steve Dye said last week.
Dye said figures released by the Governor's Com-
�nission on Children and Youth showed Valley Coun-
ty had the fewest number of juvenile offenders plac-
ed in jail and had a low rate of repeat offenders.
w. Dye said the figures were released at a recent
uvorkshop on juvenile crime sponsored by the com-
Dtission, of which he is a member from Region IV.
: In 1983 and 1984, there were 10 juveniles who were
sent to jail in Valley County each year, the lowest of
any county in the state. None of those placed in jail
were so- called status offenders, who commit offenses
Onique to juveniles such as curfew violation,
crime rate
runaway or truancy, Dye said.
Of the 10 juveniles jailed in 1984, five were held on
traffic offenses, which are handled the same for both
youths and adults, he said.
The county, on average, had only two percent of
the juveniles charged with offenses commit another
offense, according to statistics from the youth com-
mission.
The normal rate of repeat offenders for juveniles,
who are under 18 years old, is between 15 and 20 per-
cent, he said. Valley County processes about 50
juvenile crime cases each year, he said.
The figures are encouraging and go along with
goals issued by the U.S. Department of Justice to
remove juveniles from jail, Dye said.
He attributed the low figures for the county to a
good attitude toward juveniles on, the part of area
police, prosecutors and judges.
Dye gave special credit to Valley County
Magistrate Darla Williamson for her actions inside
and outside the courtroom in keeping down the jail-
ing of juveniles.
Williamson also encouraged the founding of the
Valley County Juvenile Advisory Committee, where
representatives from police agencies, courts, schools
and counseling services meet each month to discuss
common problems and goals concerning juveniles.
Idaho's statistics generally are among the best in
the country, which means Valley County's statistics
rank close to the top in the nation, Dye said.
Star News Aug 5, 1993
Crime goes up 7.5% in Valley
BY TOM GROTE
The star-New,
Serious crime rose 7.5 percent in
Valley County during 1992, while
major crimes jumped by 63.4 percent
in Adams County, according to new
figures released by the Idaho Depart-
ment of Law Enforcement.
The figures were reported in
"Crime in Idaho," the annual report of
crime in the state compiled by the
Department of Law Enforcement.
Serious crimes are defined as mur-
der, rape, robbery, aggravated assault,
burglary, theft, auto theft and arson.
Statewide, serious crimes rose 2.6
percent between 1991 and 1992.
In Valley County, some categories
of crime actually fell, even though the
overall numbers showed an increase
between 1991 and 1992, according to
the report.
The number of burglaries dropped
countywide, from 136 in 1991 to 84 in
1992. Likewise, the number of auto
thefts fell from 21 in 1991 to 15 last
year.
The drops in those areas were off-
set by a rise in thefts, from 163
incidents in 1991 to 251 in 1992, the
report said. Assaults were up, from
21 to 24.
The number of reported rapes
dropped from six in 1991 to four in
1992, and three incidents of arson
were reported in 1992 compared to
none in 1991. There was one robbery
report and one homicide, the death
of a newborn baby found at
Horsethief Reservoir.
The report broke out crimes
under the jurisdiction of the Val-
ley County Sheriff's Department
and the McCall Police Department,
but the trends for each department
were about the same as the
countywide figures.
McCall Police Chief Ed Parker
said it was difficult to interpret the
crime figures, but he hoped that
increased patrols by his officers
helped hold down the burglary
and auto theft rate.
McCall police have a well -es-
tablished force of volunteer re-
serve officers who are used for
security patrols while regular of-
ficers respond to citizen's calls,
Parker said.
The increase in thefts likely is
due to more shoplifters, Parker
said. That is a symptom of both
growth and the increase in tour-
ism, he said.
The Cascade Police Department
reported five thefts, two burglar-
ies and two auto thefts in 1992.
Comparative figures for 1991 were
not available.
Minor crimes also were on the
rise in 1992, the state report said.
Simple assault reports in Valley
County rose from 56 to 69, reports
of vandalism soared from 21 to
106, and drug violations rose from
four to 23.
Adams County reported across -
the -board increases in serious
�YfaF Meofs
dime, the state report said. Thefts
went up from 13 in 1991 to 36 in
1992, and burglaries increased
from 11 to 18 last year.
The three aggravated assaults
and the one arson reported in 1992
were the same as in 1991, and
there was one rape reported in the
county last year, as opposed to no
rape reports in 1991.
No murders, robberies or ar-
sons were reported in Adams
County in 1992. Reports of van-
dalism jumped from eight in 1991
to 30 in 1992.
Arrest records in the state re-
port showed more people were
arrested in Valley County fordriv-
ing while intoxicated, 128, than
for any other crime in 1992.
Other liquor law violations,
such as underage drinking and
possession of open containers, led
to the arrests of 63 adults and 49
juveniles in 1992.
Forty people were arrested for
theft last year in Valley County,
while 17 arrests for burglaries were
reported. Eight people were
charged with aggravated assault
and 21 were charged with simple
assault during the year.
A total of 24 percent of all
crimes reported in Valley County
in 1992 were solved by county
police agencies, the report said.
In Adams County, drunken
driving also accounted for the most
arrests, 22, during 1992. A total of
22 percent of all crimes reported
in Adams County last year were
solved.
A� a; X993
Star News 6/12/97
Valley, Adams
county crime
posts a drop
BY JEANNE SEOL
The Swan -News
Local law enforcement officials
are crediting better patrol and high
prosecution rates for a reported de-
crease of crime in both Valley and
Adams counties last year.
Statistics released last week from
the Idaho Department of Law En-
forcement show a,6 percent decrease
in reported crimes in Valley County
and a 30 percent decrease in Adams
County between 1995 and 1996.
In Valley County, Sheriff Tommy
Rhea said his department is stepping
up neighborhood patrols and placing
an emphasis on arresting drunk driv-
ers and drug users.
During 1996, Valley County
Sheriff's deputies made 109 DUI ar-
rests and 20 drug arrests, while McCall
Police Department officers chalked
up 42 DUIs and 67 drug arrests. The
two departments are working together
to get a handle on the drug use in
Valley County, Rhea said.
"DUIs are going to continue to be
a priority for our officers until we
shake enough people's cages and have
them start acting responsibly when
they're drinking," Rhea said. "DUIs
are the one arrest that should never
have to occur."
Rhea is also pleased with how his
department is starting to control the
amount of burglaries that occur in
Valley County.
Eighty -one burglaries were re-
ported in 1995 in Valley County, while
35 burglaries were reported in 1996.
Between January and March of this
year, only three burglaries were called
in and so far no "epidemic" of thefts
seems to be occurring, Rhea said.
"We broke up a couple of burglary
rings operating in Valley County and
now that the officers are moving out
(patrolling) into the county, we're see-
ing less theft," Rhea said.
Adams County saw significant
drops in the numbers of several types
of crime, including burglary, assault
and destruction of property. Officers
had high numbers of arrests in drug
offenses and driving under the influ-
ence of alcohol.
"We're actually handling more calls,
but we've got a good prosecution rate
and we're deterring crime," Adams
County Undersheriff Scot Kump said.
"We're hanging right in there."
"We're concentrating on visibility
- spending more time within the cities
and the county instead of U.S. 95 and
Idaho 55. We're leaving the high-
ways to the Idaho State Police. That's
their job and they do it well," Kump
said. "We're focusing on taking care
of the residents."
Kump said burglary complaints are
down because officers are patrolling
more in neighborhoods and deterring
crime. Officers are also concentrating
on DUIs and drug arrests because
those crimes lead to other crime - like
destruction of property and assault,
both of which decreased in 1996.
"Our resources are limited, so
we've put ourheads together and iden-
tified the crimes that lead to other
crime. We're killing two birds with
one stone," Kump said.
Both Kump and Rhea said, how-
ever, that neither county should
become complacent now that reported
crime has taken a dip. Both depart-
ments are working on writing grants
to obtain more officers and equip-
ment and are developing new
programs to help deter crime.
2 NF_ u;s
C / q7
Star News 7/26/07
VCSO seeks man who pretended to be an officer
The Valley County Sheriff's
Office is looking for a man who
portrayed himself as a police
officer on Monday on Warren
Wagon Road.
The man was driving a black
SUV with tinted windows, black
rims and no front license, a news
release said.
The car had blue and white
lights around the grill which
made it appear to be a police
car.
The man pulled over a vehicle
on Warren Wagon Road and told
the driver he had a complaint of
racing and the driver needed to
leave the vehicle and come to the
police department with him.
The driver refused and drove
away, but the suspect car fol-
lowed the car until reachingLake
Street, when it turned west.
The man was described as
white, about 6- feet -tall, light
brown hair and muscular arms,
wearing blue jeans, a black T-
shirt and flip -flops.
Anyone with information
should call 382 -5160.
This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1
New Meadows man sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography
BY MICHAEL WELLS
The Star -Neie;
A New Meadows man could serve up to 10 years in prison for viewing and possessing child
pornography, a judge ruled last week in Council.
Wesley Eugene Roberts, 32, was sentenced to 10 years, with three years fixed, on one charge of child
pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charges in September.
Third District Court Judge Bradly Ford said Roberts could serve less time in prison if he successfully
completes a state program designed to rehabilitate criminals.
Roberts was also fined $750 and ordered to pay about $1,500 in restitution.
Idaho State Police and Adams County Sheriffs Office deputies searched Roberts' home at 204 N.
Cunningham in New Meadows on June 9 after receiving information Roberts was involved in child
pornography. Police seized his computers during the raid.
Roberts admitted to an ISP investigator that he had "viewed and possessed pomography online
multiple times depicting children in various sexual acts and postures and that he had done these acts
repeatedly over a period of time in Adams County," court documents said-
http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fD stories page.php 12/8/2011
This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1
Valley sheriff made 30 percent more arrests in 2011
McCall Police report 26 percent increase in traufc stops
BY KENDEL MURRANT and DAN GALLAGHER
for The Star -News
Arrests made by the Valley County Sheriffs Office rose 30 percent in 2011, according to statistics
released by Valley County Dispatch.
There were 336 arrests last year compared with 280 arrests made in 2010.
"We definitely saw an increase in drug crimes and theft crimes are still up," said Lt. Dan Smith,
spokesperson for the sheriff's office.
Total traffic stops made by sheriffs deputies eased off from 3,163 to 3,025, but slightly more citations
were issued, from 1,053 to 1,076.
"This past year we were making more stops on Highway 55 due to considerably higher speeds being
driven on the new pavement between Cascade and Donnelly," Smith said.
The sheriff's office also took part in more traffic - safety programs funded by the Idaho Transportation
Department, specifically for seat -belt use, driving while drunk and reckless driving, Smith said. "We had
zero tolerance on those," he said.
MCCALL POLICE
The McCall Police Department had a 26 percent increase in traffic stops in 2011. City officers issued
one ticket for every 5-112 stops.
The increase in traffic stops reflects the fact that the department is fully staffed for the first time in
almost nine years, said Sgt. Pete Riftenger, spokesperson for the department.
The number of police calls and arrests made by McCall police last year were nearly the same as in
2010, the figures show.
The department responded to 1,854 calls in 2011 compared with 1,659 calls the previous year. A total
of 310 arrests were made in the city in 2011 compared to 319 arrests in 2010.
The lack of change between the two years is due to a continuing slow economy and no change in the
city's population, Rittenger said.
"We didn't see a great influx of people or a great reduction in people coming to town from 2010 to
2011," he said.
The number of drug offense arrests has gone up by about 33 percent from 2010, from 72 to 108.
The department has expanded its investigations division and now has three detectives that work with
informants and follow tips, leading to a higher number of cases, Rittenger said.
New patrol officers on the force are also proactive about drug detection during traffic stops, he said.
The number of DUI arrests went down by 35 percent in 2011 over 2010 and is the lowest number
since 2006. There were 34 DUI arrests made in 2011 compared to 52 in 2010-
The lower number reflects a downward trend on a state and national level of drunk driver arrests,
Rittenger said. The McCall Police Department also has several new officers on the force and "good DUI
detection takes time," he added.
CASCADE POLICE
The Cascade Police Department made 37 percent more arrests in 2011 over 2010, or from 48 to 66.
"We've definitely had more thefts and burglaries, and definitely more drug crimes," Cascade Police
Chief Ryan Redmon said.
Traffic stops were down 21 percent in Cascade, from 1,214 to 957, and citations also fell from 283 to
227.
The department's staffing has dropped from four officers to three, so there have been fewer patrolmen
to issue tickets, Redmond said.
http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.php 3/1/2012
This week's front page stories Page 1 of 1
Lost Boise hiker found, arrested on outstanding warrants
BY DAN GALLAGHER
for The Stec -News
A Boise man who became lost near McCall on Monday was found Wednesday morning and promptly
arrested.
Sam Willey Jr., 53, was found at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday by searchers after spending Monday and
Tuesday night in the forest near Louie Lake southeast of McCall, Valley County Sheriff's Lt. Dan Smith
said.
"He was tired and hungry" but otherwise in good condition, Smith said.
When he was found, he was arrested on six outstanding warrants from Ada County, most of them for
failure to appear in court, Smith said.
Willey was hiking with Brad Kenyon, 50, from Boise when the two became separated about 9 a.m.
Monday.
"They were hiking in to fish,' Sheriff Patti Bolen said Tuesday afternoon. "(Willey) felt like he needed to
sit down and take a break. (Kenyon) continued on to see how far the lake was or to check the trail.
When he came back, (Willey) was missing.'
A search party was organized that included members of Valley County Search and Rescue, three dog
teams from Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue and two sheriff's deputies on motorcycles.
Back
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