Pubdate: Sat, 14 Mar 2009
Source: Reading Eagle-Times (PA)
Copyright: 2009 Reading Eagle Company
Contact:  http://www.readingeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1399
Author: Jason A. Kahl
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?246 (Policing - United States - News)

READING, STATE POLICE SEARCH INCOMING BUSES, PASSENGERS; MARIJUANA
SEIZED AND MAN ARRESTED

People coming to Reading on buses from New York and Philadelphia on
Friday were greeted by city and state police and a drug-detecting dog
in a new effort to crack down on drugs entering the city.

It was the first time Reading police have searched everyone coming off
buses at the Inter-City Bus Terminal at Third and Court streets, but
officials said they plan to conduct similar searches at least once a
month.

Police arrested one man who investigators said threw a bag of
marijuana on the ground when officers approached him as he got off a
bus from New York.

The man ran but was caught after a chase on Penn Street. He was
awaiting arraignment late Friday. Police did not release his name.

Police also seized several hundred dollars worth of marijuana that was
found in a backpack on the last bus from New York after all the
passengers had gotten off.

Police also took the names of 10 to 15 people who they thought had
left drugs on buses or were acting suspiciously, said Sgt. Felix Carr,
who helped oversee the operation.

"We're hoping to do this at least once a month for all inbound buses
from Philadelphia and New York," Carr said. "The officers and
sergeants from the southwest quadrant of the city came up with this
idea, and it's been in the works for about a year now."

The operation is part of the department's effort to become more
proactive and encourage patrolmen and other rank-and-file members to
think up new ways to fight crime, Carr said.

Lt. Kyle Johnson is in charge of the officers who patrol the southwest
quadrant.

"Can you imagine how much drugs must come in on these buses?" asked
Sgt. Madison Winchester, who was part of the detail. "Word's going to
get out that we're doing this and a lot of that will stop coming on
the buses."

West Reading resident Victor Carhuayano, who was waiting to pick up a
relative, was impressed by the show of force.

"That's a good idea," he said as he watched the state police dog at
work.

William Burgess, a Carl R. Bieber Tourways driver, said he hopes
police keep checking the buses.

"I'm really glad to see this," Burgess said. "I go to New York and
back and I don't like to think about what people might be bringing
into the city. It makes me feel like I am part of the pipeline just
driving the bus here. I would really like to see this cleaned up."

After the bus detail - which lasted from 4 to 11:30 p.m. - the members
of the search team headed to Lancaster Avenue to search for drunk drivers.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin