DPD responded to:
- a disturbance call in the 100 block of Mickley Street on Tuesday.
- a vandalism call in the 200 block of East Walnut Street on Tuesday.
- an assault in the 100 block of South Market Street on Tuesday.
- juvenile disturbance at the Family Dollar Store on South Market Street on Tuesday.
- a trash complaint in the 200 block of East Walnut Street on Tuesday.
Danville Chief of Police Monte Vance reported that Tuesday morning Danville’s police K-9 Lt. Daniel Weckesser and his canine partner, officer ‘Lasko’ along with the assistance of Coshocton County K-9 Deputy Dave Stone and his canine partner, officer ‘Hanata’ performed a surprise sweep of the Danville High School and the student and staff vehicles parked in the parking lots for illegal narcotics and contraband.
An announcement had been made in the school via the public address system prior to doing the sweep for the purpose of giving any student or staff in possession or control of any illegal items the opportunity to voluntarily declare such items and were allotted a ten-minute grace period to do so. Instructions were that no one was to go to their lockers or vehicles to retrieve any illegal items but were instructed to come to the office instead to declare such items are in their lockers, backpacks or vehicles. This announcement instructed that; should any student or staff turn over or declare an illegal item, the matter would be handled by the school administration as per the policy of the Danville Local Schools. The announcement went on to inform that after this ten-minute grace period expires, the K-9 units will be deployed and should any illegal item be discovered by the K-9 units, the School Administration could elect to have the Danville Police handle the matter which could possibly result in arrest and criminal charges being filed. No illegal narcotics or contraband were declared or surrendered during the ten-minute grace period in either building and nothing was discovered during the sweep of the building by the K-9 units or in student and staff vehicles.
Chief Vance stated that the drug culture has established itself because of the demand for drugs and the money made as a result. We live in a society where the use of illegal drugs is a problem that affects everyone. Law enforcement alone cannot stop the activity and the impact of drugs in our communities and schools is a concern. Vance went on to say that it takes the unified effort of our communities, our schools, our government, our houses of faith and the ability to provide a way to those who depends upon drugs to find a way to break the vicious cycle that drug dependency causes. Vance said by doing sweeps of our schools such as the one performed by the K-9 units, is a step taken to assure everyone that law enforcement is willing to assist our schools in assuring they provide a drug free learning environment. Chief Vance says he commends the cooperative effort of the Danville Local School’s Administration and staff, the Danville Police K-9 Unit and the Coshocton County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit for their efforts.
