Del Norte Police will begin weekly blotter

DEL NORTE— Sitting behind a desk covered in papers, with several certificates lining the walls around the office, Police Chief Bobbi Fresquez with the Del Norte Police Department (DNPD) types up the first of many blotter entries for the Del Norte Prospector. “I have had several calls coming in from people who want to see the activity happening in their neighborhoods. I want the department to begin letting people know about the crimes that are happening here in town so that maybe, we can begin to do something about it,” said Fresquez.

It has been several years since the paper has published an ongoing police report for the DNPD. Now, through a partnership with the paper and the community the crimes happening in and around Del Norte will be public knowledge. From now on, a detailed account of the crimes on a week-to-week basis will be published as a way to show confidence in the community and ask for their help in stopping some of the crimes from happening.

Fresquez has been working diligently over the last year to get the community involved in what was happening in the area. “We have had so much going on recently, that I need the community to step up. We need eyes out there telling us when something is suspicious or out of place. We have had four thefts in the same neighborhood and people need to get involved,” said Fresquez.

Fresquez reported that the Neighborhood Watch program in Del Norte had a strong start, with people interested in protecting their neighborhoods, but has recently suffered a decline in attendees. “This is their community, they need to be involved in order to stop what is happening. We have had an increase in prescription theft and household theft. It has gotten so bad, these people are stealing the change jars from homes. We want the public to join us in the Neighborhood Watch program that is the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the county annex building.”

Fresquez has been in law enforcement for 32 years and has seen pretty much everything there is to see. “Not only are we dealing with the thefts, but we have had four officers killed in the line of duty in the past 36 days. I just can’t wrap my head around it. We need to pull together as a community and begin to take steps to stop this from happening and having a blotter in the paper is just one of those steps.”

The following is the first blotter:

On Jan. 24- The department received a call on a stolen vehicle from the U-Haul location in Monte Vista. Suspect returned the trailer in Del Norte, no charges filed.

In the 800 block of 4th and 5th streets in Del Norte there were three thefts reported at residences where large collections of change were stolen.

Jan. 26- A criminal trespass/criminal mischief was reported in the 300 block of Penasco Street where a large amount of vandalism occurred; suspect was apprehended.

Carlos Rodriguez was cited for driving under denial which was his third offense.

Lee Wilcox was apprehended after a foot chase ensued and arrested for active warrants in Rio Grande and Alamosa counties.

Jason Hill was arrested for an active warrant in Rio Grande County and was apprehended after jumping into a dumpster at the Alta Gas Station.