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Today's quarterly report focus is on heroin overdoses.
Citywide, for the first quarter of 2019, MPD responded to 40 known heroin overdoses. This is down from 61 overdoses during the same quarter in 2018; a decrease of 34% for 2019. (In March of 2019, there were 13 known overdoses).
For overdoses resulting in death, in the first quarter of this year there were 8 known fatalities from heroin. In 2018, during the same reporting period, there were 9 fatalities; a decrease of 11% for 2019. (In March of 2019, there were 3 known fatalities).
MONTHLY MARI (Madison Addiction Recovery Initiative): Patrol officers referred 6 people to the MARI program in March. It should be noted that on January 1 (2019), MPD began accepting Dane County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) cases for participation in MARI---one person has been referred thus far. Thirty-two people have now successfully completed the MARI program, with 5 more on schedule to complete in April.
Recently, the group "Strategies for Policing Innovation" (a collaborative effort among the Bureau of Justice Assistance, national training and technical assistance partners, state and local law enforcement agencies and researchers) published a story in their spring newsletter which acknowledges the work of the MARI program as a paradigm shift in dealing with the epidemic nature of heroin overdoses. A link to the article (page 2) has been incorporated here for those who would like to learn more about this evolving initiative!
/police/chief/blog/documents/Expanding%20Partnerships%20to%20Address%20Overdoses.pdf
Many thanks to the daily steward of MPD's involvement with MARI---Officer Bernie Albright---whose passion and dedication in this effort has clearly saved lives!
The information contained in my blog is derived from notes provided by MPD Officers-In-Charge (OIC) at the end of their shifts. Most narratives represent early and preliminary information that was gathered by an OIC from those in the field who were actively working cases. The OIC is sharing what they were being told, in the moment. In many instances, facts and circumstances, even the type of crime listed, can change as officers, detectives and investigators continue their work.
From 6:00 a.m. on 04/03/2019 through 6:00 a.m. on 04/04/2019, MPD received 437 calls for service. This number does not include parking complaints or 911 misdials. For purposes of clarification, the following abbreviations are short-hand for race designations: W=White, AA=African American, NA=Native American, H=Hispanic, ME=Middle Eastern, A=Asian, MR=Mixed Race, U=Unknown. MPD shifts are staggered as follows: 1st detail=7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2nd detail=12 p.m. to 8 p.m., 3rd detail=3 p.m. to 11 p.m., 4th detail=8 p.m. to 4 a.m., 5th detail=11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
To further break down the 437 calls for service for the past 24 hours this is how the calls came in per district: Central (85), East (79), Midtown (69), North (75), South (35), West (56), and Other (38). Other=these are calls for service that either do not have a sector listed or the sector is not in the City. For example, if one of our officers assists another law enforcement agency, their sector is not listed in our districts so therefore it is listed under "other."
1) CENTRAL: Information – 5:19 am. All of the railroad gates at the intersection of John Nolen, Williamson and Blair Streets were stuck in the down position. Officers directed traffic until railroad personnel could fix the gates at approximately 7:30a.
2) CENTRAL: Check Person – 10:16 am. A subject (29-year-old WM) was sending his friend text messages that caused his friend concern that the subject may be suicidal. Police checked the subject's welfare at his residence on Atwood Ave. The subject was voluntarily transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
3) NORTH: Child Abuse – 11:35 am. CPS requested MPD's assistance with an investigation into a child's disclosure of possible abuse at the child's residence. Officers made contact with the victim (10-year-old AAF) and a safety plan was put in place. Probable cause was developed to arrest the mother/suspect (35-year-old AAF) for physical abuse of a child and a probation hold. Investigation continuing.
4) CENTRAL: Stolen Auto – 12:02 pm. A victim (32-year-old AAF) reported her vehicle stolen from the 500 block of E Johnson St. Her husband had accidentally left the keys in the vehicle. Investigation continuing.
5) CENTRAL: Adult Arrested Person – 2:15 pm. Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of E Washington Ave to check the welfare of a suspect (38-year-old WM) who was acting strangely and was possibly incapacitated. The suspect was placed in protective custody and taken to the hospital where marijuana was found on his person. Upon hearing he was going to jail, the suspect spit on and threatened officers and tried to bribe officers to release him. The suspect was arrested for threats to law enforcement, bribery to public official, discharge of bodily fluids on officers and bail jumping. Investigation continuing.
6) NORTH: Battery – 3:30 pm. Officers responded to a local hospital for a victim (22-year-old WM) who was battered in the parking lot of Perkins at 4863 Hayes Rd by an unidentified suspect. The victim was waiting to meet his child's mother when the suspect, believed to be the mother's boyfriend, hit the victim in the head and face with a socket wrench, causing an orbital fracture, bleeding behind the eye and a possible concussion. Probable cause was developed to charge the suspect with substantial battery and disorderly conduct. Investigation continuing.
7) NORTH: Suspicious Vehicle – 3:46 pm. An officer in the area of Meadowlark Dr and Open Wood Way made contact with a vehicle as the license plate displayed did not match the vehicle. Due to the suspicious behavior and story of the suspect (39-year-old WM), the officer conducted a search of the vehicle which yielded weapons and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was charged with carrying a concealed weapon (brass knuckles), carrying a concealed knife, obstructing an officer and bail jumping, and was taken to jail. Investigation continuing.
8) NORTH: Assist Dane County Sheriff – 4:04 pm. Officers assisted the DCSO with a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 4500 block of Maryland Dr. A DCSO detective arrived on scene and relieved MPD units.
9) EAST: Retail Theft – 4:53 pm. Loss prevention for Target on Lien Rd attempted to stop two suspects (28-year-old WM and 28-year-old WF) for a felony retail theft. Police apprehended the suspects as they fled in a vehicle. The female suspect was charged with party to a crime retail theft and the male suspect with retail theft. Both suspects were taken to jail. Investigation continuing.
10) CENTRAL: Information – 5:00 pm. An officer made phone contact with a citizen who contacted police with concerns about a comment on a news story. The officer documented the contact.
11) EAST: Recovered Stolen Auto – 6:35 pm. A caller to dispatch spotted her family member's vehicle which was reported stolen at the end of February. The caller provided a description of the driver/suspect (17-year-old AAM) to police who located the suspect walking in the area where the vehicle was last seen with the key to the stolen vehicle in his pocket. The suspect was arrested for operating a motor vehicle without consent and taken to jail. Investigation continuing.
12) WEST: Check Person – 8:21 pm. Officers responded to a preschool to investigate a report that a child had made inappropriate contact with another child. Officers are attempting contact with CPS as well as the parents of the child who reported the behavior. Investigation continuing.
13) NORTH: Drug Incident Overdose – 10:44 pm. Officers responded to the Kwik Trip at 1434 Northport Dr where a suspect (31-year-old WM) had overdosed in a vehicle. MFD paramedics administered naloxone and revived the suspect who admitted to using heroin. The suspect was conveyed to the hospital and was charged with possession of heroin, paraphernalia and a probation hold. Investigation continuing.
14) WEST: Domestic Disturbance – 12:26 am. A victim (28-year-old WF) reported the suspect (34-year-old AAM) was at her residence and was intoxicated and causing a disturbance. There was probable cause from previous incidents to arrest the suspect for bail jumping, damage to property, disorderly conduct, battery and recklessly endangering safety. The suspect was booked into the jail. Investigation continuing.