October 08, 2021
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Local law enforcement see sharp increase in DWI arrests - WOAI

Castle Hills police officers are seeing a steady increase in a certain type of crime.
Castle Hills police officers are seeing a steady increase in a certain type of crime.

SAN ANTONIO - Castle Hills police officers are seeing a steady increase in a certain type of crime.

According to the department's captain, the number of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) incidents are way up over last year.

"With these numbers that are so drastic for our small agency, it really hits home that you know, there are some dangerous people that are operating their vehicles while intoxicated," said Castile Hills Police Department (CHPD) Captain Wayne Waggoner. "And it's a danger to not only my officers but my citizens here in Castle Hills and citizens in Bexar County."

The police department has already seen more than double the number of DWI arrests from last year.

"Since 2017, I pulled some numbers in '17, we had 52. DWI is for the year," Captain Waggoner said. "In '18, and '19, we have 59 and 62, respectively. And 2020 was COVID year, so we were down to 33 arrests. However, this year, quite surprised, and we're almost doubling that our norm. We're at 114 DWI. And the year is not even over yet."

CHPD only covers the span of the city. It is a community of 2.5 miles that does include a mile stretch of Loop 410.

It definitely needs to be addressed," Captain Waggoner said.

Azeza Salama of MADD's Central and South Texas Affiliate said she was disappointed to hear about the increase in DWIs.

"It's just unfortunate to see that these senseless crimes continue to climb," Salama said. "And at the time of the year that we're in right now we're just getting into fall and it hurts. It's a hard pill to swallow when it comes to hearing those numbers because I know that we're just right around the holiday season."

As the victim of a drunk driver herself, Salama knows all too well the pain that comes along with losing a loved one in this type of tragedy.

"I tell you one thing about drunk drivers is they don't discriminate," Salama said. "It does not matter who you are, where you're from, what your religion is, what your sexual orientation is, it doesn't matter at the end of the day, because anybody is adaptable to being a victim of a drunk driver."

For comparison, we checked in with the Balcones Heights Police Department (BHPD).

According to BHPD Chief of Police John Jahanara:

  • April 1, 2021 – October 1, 2021, there were 4 DWI arrests. One of them was for DWI 3rd or More.
  • April 1, 2020 – October 1, 2020, there were 3 DWI arrests. One was for DWI 3rd or More and one was for DWI 2nd.

"It's a city within a city," Salama said. "And without that city, being their boots on the ground, specifically in that region, it's just additional work for SAPD."

It is additional work Captain Waggoner said the department is more than happy to help with.

With the holiday season yet to come, he added officers are gearing up for what they anticipate will be a busy end of the year for officers.

"It needs to be done," Captain Waggoner said. "You're driving on these roads. My family is driving on these roads."



source: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/local-law-enforcement-see-sharp-increase-in-dwi-arrests

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