Local News – Friday, February 12th, 2021

The Salem Police Department released a number of reports. On Saturday, January 23rd at around 1:00 in the morning, an officer conducted a traffic stop that the intersection of Highway 19 and Hunt Street. During the traffic stop, consent to search the vehicle was obtained and items of drug paraphernalia were located. As a result, a 23-year-old Salem woman was arrested and later released on a summons for possession of drug paraphernalia. A short time later at 2:18, an officer conducted a traffic stop near the city park for a vehicle that was not maintaining a single lane of travel. While making contact with the driver, an odor of intoxicants was noticed. Upon further investigation it was determined the driver was driving while being intoxicated. As the result a 46-year-old Salem man was arrested and was later released on a summons for driving while being intoxicated. Later that same morning just before 11:00, an officer was dispatched to the area of Mondy and Holman streets for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival officers found a male subject slumped over in the truck and it appeared the subject had used narcotics and was possible overdosing. Contact was made with the driver and it was later found that the vehicle he was occupying was reported stolen out of Lone Jack, Missouri. Also located on the subject was a clear substance suspected of being methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. As a result, a 32-year-old Blue Springs man was arrested and incarcerated at the Dent County Jail pending the application of warrants. The next day, January 24th at approximately 4:50 in the afternoon, an officer was dispatched to the intersection of Highway 19 and Center Street for a report of property damage. It was reported three younger subjects had struck a vehicle with a golf club causing a dent to the vehicle. The witness was not able to identify the younger subjects and this incident is still under investigation. During the afternoon of Monday, January the 25th just before 3:00, an officer was dispatched to 404 West Seventh Street for a report of a theft. It was reported that numerous items were stolen out of a shed on the property. The total value of the items stolen was approximately $5000. A witness in the area had noticed a vehicle back up and load items from the shed around the holidays and was able to provide officers with a license plate. The license plate checked back to a stolen vehicle out of Maries County. This incident is still under investigation. Please contact the Salem Police Department at (573) 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an ongoing investigation.

Here’s a cold weather safety tip. Youngsters are often attracted to ice covered private ponds for skating and playing. Theoretically, the only “safe” ice is at a skating rink. The ice forming on lakes, rivers, and ponds place a person at much greater risk due to natural variables. It’s impossible to judge the strength of ice by its appearance or daily temperature. Missouri weather moves from single digit temperatures to the upper 40s within short time periods, which will greatly affect the construction of ice. Adults should educate children about the dangers of playing on ice and always supervise them when they play on or near ice. Make sure they understand the dangers of being on the ice and insist that they wear a lifejacket/PFD. Never let them play on ponds or lakes unattended. Many ice victims start out as would-be rescuers. To prevent this from happening, do not go onto the ice to rescue another person or retrieve a pet. To aid someone who has fallen through the ice the first step should be calling for emergency services. A local fire department should have the quickest response time, the proper equipment, and have been trained to handle ice emergencies. Rather than going onto the ice to attempt rescuing someone, you should extend a ladder, pole, or rope to a victim along with something that will float. If you find yourself in the position of needing to be rescued, there are techniques that should be followed for self-rescue. Try not to panic. Face the direction you came from and spread your arms out on the unbroken ice. Kick your feet and try to pull yourself onto the ice. Once out of the water, do not attempt to stand. Lying on the ice keeps your weight distributed. Roll away from the hole then crawl across the ice back to solid land.