Drug activity showing a decrease

Within the first quarter of the year, officers with the Thermopolis Police Department and Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office have apprehended and cited subjects for possession of marijuana and other narcotics. However, recently the number of drug-related incidents has slowed down.

Police Chief Julie Mathews said the drug interdiction being done by both agencies has definitely had an impact. Looking at the numbers specifically for the police department, Mathews reported there were 24 drug busts in 2017 and more than 50 in 2018, and already in 2019 there have been 11.

In the past couple weeks, she noted, things have slowed down. “If it’s not there, it’s not there,” she said, “and that makes us happy.

Sheriff Jeremie Kraushaar said there are reports of people getting bits of marijuana here and there, but there has been a significant drop in not only the number of stops resulting in drug busts but also the movement of substances and any deputies hearing of drug activity.

The sheriff’s office did do a controlled buy, Kraushaar noted, and he expects there to be a couple warrants as a result. He noted the buy did not result in the usual players but some they’ve never got before.

The recent silence with regard to drugs, Kraushaar said, could mean those involved are finding better ways to get around the law but also that the departments are putting enough pressure on people that things are quieting down.