Police chief alleges Springfield PD shielding migrants from law enforcement

A REPORT FROM OHIO DETAILS A LOCAL POLICE CHIEF RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT RISING TENSIONS AND A BREAKDOWN IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD FOLLOWING THE ARRIVAL OF THOUSANDS OF HAITIAN NATIONALS. 

TREMONT CITY POLICE CHIEF CHAD DUNCAN SAYS HIS TOWN, LOCATED JUST EIGHT MILES OUTSIDE OF SPRINGFIELD, IS FEELING THE EFFECTS OF WHAT HE CALLS LAWLESSNESS. HE CLAIMS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY UNLICENSED HAITIAN DRIVERS ARE ON THE RISE, AND SPRINGFIELD OFFICIALS ARE DOING LITTLE TO ENFORCE THE SITUATION.

“THE IMPACT IS THAT PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN’T BE DRIVING ARE OUT THERE AND THEY’RE ALLOWING THEM TO DRIVE AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHO’S AT FAULT? THEN THEY YOU KNOW AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE AREN’T EVEN GETTING CITED AFTER THEY GET IN THE WRECK SO EVERYBODY’S INSURANCE IS GOING UP… YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES… I MEAN IT’S IT’S A BIG IMPACT”

DUNCAN RECALLS ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENT, WHERE HE PULLED OVER THE SAME HAITIAN DRIVER TWICE IN TWO WEEKS FOR SPEEDING

“HE DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A LICENSE. COMING THROUGH TOWN AT 44 MILES PER HOUR IN A 25-MILE ZONE. THAT’S THE SECOND TIME I TOWED HIS CAR”
“AND SPRINGFIELD WOULDN’T HAVE?”
“NO.”

CHIEF DUNCAN SUSPECTS THE CITY MAY BE SOFTENING ITS STANCE ON RECKLESS DRIVING TO AVOID DEPORTATIONS. UNDER U-S LAW, TWO MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES COULD TRIGGER THE DEPORTATION PROCESS. DUNCAN ALLEGES SPRINGFIELD IS PROTECTING THE HAITIAN NATIONALS FROM THIS CONSEQUENCE.

DUNCAN ALSO CLAIMS SPRINGFIELD POLICE HAVE CUT OFF OUTSIDE ACCESS TO THEIR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, LEAVING NEARBY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE DARK. HE SAYS THIS IS A NEW MOVE BY THE CITY, WHICH HE BELIEVES IS TRYING TO SHIELD ITS ACTIONS FROM PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

“WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR THEM ON THE RADIO AND APPARENTLY THEY HAVE DECIDED TO GO SILENT OR INCOGNITO UM HOWEVER HOWEVER THEY UH DECIDE TO DO IT SO WE DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CITY UM THAT HAPPENED THE DAY THEY BROUGHT THE STATE TROOPERS IN TO HELP THEM OUT SO UM AFTER THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT’S GOING ON NOW”

“THERE WAS A THREAT AT A SCHOOL TODAY I COULDN’T HEAR IT I JUST CAUGHT WIND OF IT FROM ANOTHER GUY FROM ANOTHER CHIEF THAT’S SOMETHING RIGHT NEXT TO THE CITY RIGHT AND HE HAD SAID HEY SO UM YEAH THAT MAKES A HUGE IMPACT FOR US”

DESPITE DUNCAN’S CLAIMS CONCERNING THE STATE’S LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY… OHIO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A 2-POINT-5 MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION ON PUBLIC SAFETY… INCLUDING A SURGE IN STATE TROOPER HIRES TO HELP CRACK DOWN ON RISING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.