Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston has done a lot of things in his career, but one thing he’s never done before this week is witness a drug bust.
Alston was riding along for an evening with Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers to get to know more about how the sheriff and the Sheriff’s Department operate.
Alston said he found the experience eye-opening.
He made his remarks at the end of the Thursday, Sept. 1 meeting of the Guilford County Commissioners.
One of the first crimes the two men came across that evening was a speeder.
“The guy was running 85 in a 55 so the sheriff had to pull him over,” Alston said.
He added, “I was happy being on the right side of the blue lights rather than the wrong side of the blue lights.”
Recently, some members of the Board of Commissioners have done some ride-alongs with county emergency response workers and law enforcement to get a more up-close view of how they operate.
Alston said he was astonished at how much information the officers have on people at their fingertips.
“Before you get out of the car, they know more about you than you know about yourself,” the chairman said.
The night ended up being a lot longer than Alston had planned due to what happened last.
“We were on our way back home and Danny saw someone standing out on the street and he thought the person looked out of place,” Alston said. “He turned the car around and asked her if she was alright. She said she was, and he got her driver’s license and called it in and found out she had a warrant outstanding. He asked her what was going on and she confessed she had drugs on her – she had a big wad of heroin in her pocket.”
That meant that other units and a drug-sniffing dog had to be brought out to the scene and more had to be done before Alston and Rogers ended the night.
“It was a good experience,” Alston said, adding that he got home at 12:30 in the morning and had a 7:30 a.m. breakfast to attend the next day.
Guilford County Commissioner Carlvena Foster asked Alston: “Do you have to be a witness in the case?”
“No, I hope not,” he said. Then He looked worried about that possibility and added quickly “I didn’t see nothing,” a line which got a big laugh from the crowd in the meeting room.
God help Guilford County.
He did, he made majority black.
Yes he did indeed along with a whole lot it lazy,government dependent,baby mama and daddies without jobs and don’t pay taxes. Just look at Jackson Miss. problems no WHITE people to work no taxes paid and no money for infrastructure. Greensboro in a few years. Enjoy the ride little town.
Well that billion and some Change along with millions in aid from the federal government will help and I think the white people in Guilford county has more money then the white in suburban Mississippi so we have plenty of resources to tap. Property tax increase will help also. Thanks for your contribution In keeping this a great black city.
Sorry to p$$ on your party but I don’t pay taxes in either one but in case you’re not able to see it
Greensboro is going down the toilet just like all the other Dumbass Democrat run cities. Pick one and prove me wrong
Better watch out she might steal his car. What a showboat at election time.
Did he write a ticket for the speeding?
Will he show up in court as primary complainant on the felony drug charge.
You never know the evidence may get “lost”
wink wink After all you never heard anything else about the poor woman who was able to get into his car with access to the keys
Alston should have waited until Guilford County votes in a new Sheriff.
Bon chance.
Greensboro city council members should take the time to do the same. Maybe instead of defunding the police, cutting the budget they would support the police. Murder is on the rise mainly in the Eastern district. Funny how the ones who cut the budget and vocally want to suppress our police department are where the highest crime rate is. Unfortunately we have 4 more years of senseless murders, many that could possibly be avoided with a larger police presence if there was support by our city council.
What has Cure for Violence done to decrease crime?
Councilwoman Johnson are you afraid to be report accountability to your constituents for the $900K plus dollars the council gave you? Are you feeling you are above the citizens of Greensboro?
Are you being accountable for OUR tax dollars? Is your program successful or a waste of tax dollars?
Oh gosh…I’ll sleep much better now that I read this story.
Things that make you wonder. First congratulations to Skip for doing a ride along. The offer was made to he and the other commissioners several times in the past. The only one who took us up on the offer was Jeff Thigpen, then a commissioner, now Register of Deeds, who took it a step further and spent part of a night in our jail to see what deplorable shape it was in not only for the prisoners but the detention officers. Commissioner Coleman got to see the inside of the jail when we arrested her for civil disobedience, but was released on a written promise to appear. Skip and a couple others did a quick walk thru of the jail, during the Jail Bond election, but stayed less than 15 minutes. Seeing what these folks really go thru, both detention officer, deputies and prisoners should be required for all commissioners.
Scott you wrote a good story, but there are things I and your reader may wonder about. You state the speeder was traveling 85 in a 55. To my knowledge the sheriff is not radar certified nor does he have radar. How did they figure the speed, wild guess. Did the sheriff write them a ticket. That speed will get their license. You also said they were going home when they saw someone the sheriff felt was out of place, the sheriff stopped and questioned the person. Was that profiling, that’s against the law? Skip if you know so much about the arrest, enough to tell a story about it, then logically you should be a witness, it’s your civic duty. I’m sure the sheriff turned it over to a qualified officer keeping both you and he out of the mix. Then, how about that “big wad” of heroin, a “big wad” would be a major drug bust, and worth a lot of money. People who have that kind of weight seldom give themselves up as you reported, even if they have a warrant, they try to ditch it. What was the warrant for? Why didn’t we read about it? Scott was any body arrested in either case, can it be documented or is it just a story? Again, things that make you wonder.
Really good picture can’t decide if it fits the movie “Dumb and Dumber “ or the good ole boy sheriff and his dumb son in the Burt Reynolds’s movie
BJ, skip was probably afraid to ride with a WHITE sheriff he may have ended up in the back seat with silver bracelets on.
I wondered why a woman can’t hang out on any given street in the middle of the night, hasn’t he heard of equity? I also wonder why it looks like Mr. Rogers has a bomb strapped around him. If I was Skip I’d be worried about the look of that.
I would bet good money that this mysterious woman standing around with a wad of heroin was a complete fabrication to make the sheriff look good in front of his pal, Skip. She either got a pat on the back and a few dollars for her cooperation, or, they took her back to the station and she changed back into her uniform.
Or she got the keys to the sheriffs car.
Big Skip doing ride alongs to god bless the man true public servant.
Really good picture can’t decide if it fits the movie “Dumb and Dumber “ or the good ole boy sheriff and his dumb son in the Burt Reynolds’s movie
Can you say “What kind of political stunt can I pull for maximum effect and get as many Democrat candidates involved as possible”?
I knew you could. (Sorry Mr. Rogers)
BJ Barnes made some interesting points about this so-called Ride along.
Danny and Skip.
Let’s make a trip.
Shine on in the light
of public spite
Skip, how many times have you said “I didn’t see nothing” about other situations?
Nice article and picture just in time for elections. Have you noticed suddenly they are working? If people vote Danny Rogers in again they are fools. I pray people have their eyes open and can see how connected and crooked these people are. The Sherriff dept has stopped breaking up crack house on Southside. Go ask the people who live there. So any word on the Spillman murder or suicide? It’s been quiet hasnt it? 14 people showed up on that case and they still haven’t solved it? Sounds suspicious.
Troubled times!!!
If Danny Rogers is stopping cars at high speeds I hope he’s careful and not violate folks civil rights with all the cars he’s stopped over the last 3 yrs. Where did he get his training and certifications from to conduct these traffic stops and drug bust. I’m sure the Sheriff Office has documented his training for folks to see with the elections coming up. I wonder if he writes the tickets or has a deputy write the tickets for him. I’m confessed. If the deputy writes the ticket for Rogers shouldnt the deputy be putting Rogers name as a witness. If not shouldnt every case be dropped past, present and future. When i got my tickets i noticed a spot on the ticket for the officer and witness. Now im more confessed if Rogers name isnt on the ticket then how is the deputy to testify in court .Prayers!!!
I’m a little confused with Rogers. Was it Melvin who said Rogers made deputies work for him on county dime for private reasons. Isn’t that a criminal charge. Why has it not been looked into…. can someone answer? Prayers.
With that face hair and eyebrows the sheriff reminds me of a schnauzer I once had he always took a pee on his other leg