The Monterey Police Department wants you to know that if you operate your business in violation of the shelter-in-place order, undercover detectives will catch you.
In an April 17 press release, the police described how its officers are running sting operations to monitor compliance with the county-imposed order shut down all non-essential activity in order to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Detectives in regular clothes are going around town, posing as customers to check on businesses to determine if they qualified as essential and to see if they are maintaining social distancing protocols.
Over the past week, detectives visited 30 businesses, according to Lt. Michael Bruno’s press release. They found only one violator, Twisted Roots, the headshop at 482 Alvarado St. Because the owner had been warned once before, detectives issued the store a citation.
“The MPD has and will continue to deploy overt (marked police vehicles and uniformed officers) and covert (unmarked police vehicles) police tactics to ensure criminal activity is thwarted,” the police statement reads. “The MPD will use the same tactics to enforce the shelter-in-place order, to ensure the imminent threat and menace to the public health is minimized by those who chose to ignore the SIP, thereby endangering the community. “
Police are also enforcing the lockdown order by responding to “numerous” complaints from local residents.
On April 13, for example, police showed up at Tide Avenue, which faces Del Monte Beach, where they found people drinking alcohol in a car. All three were under the drinking age of 21 and were cited. Two were under 18 and one of them was a 20-year-old who was arrested for “contributing to the delinquency of a minor.” All of the members of the group were also cited for violating the shelter-in-place order, a misdemeanor.
(3) comments
Doesn't this authoritarian, one might say, brute force not concerning to some? If one looks at the facts, not the models, this isn't a pandemic. Now,you'Il probably won't
published this but look at the numbers, please. The modeling doesn't reflect the Medical science that is out there by Stanford Medical and Harvard Medical. Let alone the doctors in NYC using hydroxychloroquine and zinc to beat this back with 99% success rate of those diagnosed with this virus. Are we really willing to ruin millions of lives over a death rate of 0.0001%, yes that number is correct. Where are you that question everything the government says? Where's the Squid when one need him/her?
This is ridiculous. There is no reason why “non essential” Businesses can’t open back up and use social distancing protocol.
I wish so very Much, that City of Salinas and Salinas PD would take this lockdown seriously like Monterey has stepped up and Done. I have wrote to Panetta, wrote to the City of Salinas...twice..
And have gotten absolutely No Response...Period about my concerns and my Neighbors concerns about the unsafe issues at the Apartments we live at where the Pool gate is left unlocked, Gang parties and Holiday gatherings are happening...
We are being hit with huge rent increases that change weekly.
If we are not under enough stress, it would sure help if Salinas would step up for its citizens and address these issues instead of hiding behind locked doors at City Hall...I and others could use help getting some food and services in
Salinas....Please, where are you???
You want our help and assistance.....where is yours???
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