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Dangerous situations can be avoided
with enhanced awareness
Michael
Tiberi
Journalism 1 contributor
Recently a Sandpoint woman made a report claiming that she was
allegedly raped in the dog beach area.
“The victim is
alleging that she was attacked,” Lieutenant Gary Johnston of the
Bonner County Sheriff Department said. “She is alleging that the
suspect got off his bicycle and forced her to the ground.”
Soon after
the police were notified by dispatch the area was searched for the
suspect.
“The area was
searched, but the results were negative,” Johnston said
Although the woman was not a high school student the school keeps in
good contact.
“We keep in
contact with the police over the weekend,” Dean of Students Bill
Barlow said.
When
calls come into the Bonner County dispatch office a certain
procedure of rules are followed.
“Law
enforcement is dispatched while someone is still on the phone with
the victim,” Bonner County Dispatcher Brandy Read said.
When
someone calls in alleging that a crime has occurred that specific
type of call is considered a “hot call.”
“A ‘hot
call’ is something that has just happened within five to fifteen
minutes,” Read said.
As soon
as the victim states what has happened the dispatch office notifies
the proper authorities.
“Law
enforcement is notified, depending on the location, and we contact
the deputies.” Read said.
In some
cases the Idaho State Police (ISP) steps in to help the Sandpoint
Police.
“If in the
area, they [ISP] assist us,” Read said.
For
some students of SHS, Dog Beach was a place to go and just hangout,
and with the crime rate rising in Sandpoint; it seems to be
something hard to do.
“I ride my
bike down there every once a week,” junior Hope Rainbow said. “I go
there to be solitary and just wind down.”
Crime seems
to be happening not just at Dog Beach, but other areas as well,
students are taking other precautions.
“I think it’s
a wake up call about going anywhere by yourself,” Rainbow said.
“With this, and the murder on great northern, Sandpoint is not as
safe, it just doesn’t have that small town element anymore.”
With
Sandpoint becoming larger everyday crime is beginning to become more
prominent.
“Sandpoint is
growing and with growth comes crime,” Rainbow said. “It’s not the
original Sandpoint residents, it’s the new residents coming in.”
To
better prepare if ever in a situation that could be dangerous follow
simple precautions that will help to better protect oneself.
“The best
things to do is be aware of your surroundings,” Johnston said. “Be
aware of what happens around you.”
Other advice
from the Sheriff Department is if carrying a weapon; make sure to be
properly trained and knowledgeable of its use.
“The weapon
can be taken from you and used against you,” Johnston said.
Ultimately, the most important things to do would be the most
simple.
“Yell for
help,” Johnston said. “Don’t be a victim.”
2000 Crime Statistics for Bonner County
Bonner County-2000
Crime Number
Total 990
Murder 0
Rape 11
Robbery 3
Aggravated Assault 48
Burglary 257
Larceny – theft 601
Motor vehicle thefts 70
Population 36,835
Coverage indicator 100%
Data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the National
Archive of Criminal Justice Data, University of Michigan
www.sandpointonline.com
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